The Day After (1983) (Movie Review)

    I’m rarely one to get scared or disturbed by movies, and on the occasion that I do, it’s never from horror movies of the genera … but instead its movies focusing on real life parallels, or in other cases, its drama’s asking the plausible question of “What if this really happened?”. In this regard, the 1983 TV movie “The Day After” is an experience that shook me to my core, and for over a decade has lingered in the back of my mind. Paralleling the real world Cold-War paranoia taking shape in the early 80’s, “The Day After” was the daring and controversial movie to ask … what if we really did escalate into a full-scale nuclear exchange? I first saw this movie when I was in my juvenile and care-free high-school years, in which I was convinced that nothing could bother me in a movie. However, two movies I watched at the time quickly snapped me back to reality, and reminded me that I’m still quiet human. The first being the 2000 picture “Requiem for a Dream”, and the other naturally is “The Day After”. I was plenty familiar with nukes prior to watching this film, and even watched a number of movies revolving around them, including "Dr. Strangelove", "War Games", "The Terminator" franchise, and even select episodes of "The Twilight Zone" ... yet, “The Day After” was the movie experience that really channeled an alarming concern ... that it might just happen to us one day. 

   This movie originally aired on the ABC television network, with more than 100 million viewers, in nearly 40 million households, all tuning into the program … and for over three decades, has been held as the highest rated TV program of all time. Still to this day, it’s regarded as one of the greatest TV movie productions, and one that still packs quiet the punch, forcing the viewers to ponder its probable warnings, and still leaves a terrifying effect all these years later. 

It's so effectively executed that I never once feel like I’m watching a TV movie, and by extent, it feels all the more relevant and timeless all these decades later. One of the film’s most effective decisions was it’s simple, relatable, “day in the life” presentation. The first half of the movie mainly focuses on our recognizable everyday world, and there’s no real narrative in play, or even conventional characters. It’s just watching people live out there days. The whole point of this is punctuated when a young lady visits a museum, comments on a chinses painting, and addresses that it wants to make the viewer feel like they’re part of the picture, rather than just looking at a canvas. Of course, the cold-war tension finally reaches its boiling point, and suddenly on one horrible day … 300 Soviet warheads fly overhead, with America’s missiles flying East to Russia, culminating into a full-on nuclear bombing across the globe. The second half follows a hand-full of survivors trapped in a nuclear winter, who are subsequently the more unfortunate victims of the event … as their emanate demise are going to be slow and horrific.  

   While the first half was admittedly very boring on first viewing … it really made things all the more effective when everything goes to Hell, as it gives the apocalyptic aftermath a sense of tangibility. Also, prior to the bombings is a slowly built, yet affectively ominous sense of dread, which looms in the details. One of the most poignant conversations is an exchange between two doctors, as they discuss the turmoil and paranoia around them. 

The first doctor plainly asks … “What’s happening in the world?”, to which the second grimly responds with … “Stupidity … which has a habit of getting its way!” It’s also worth noting that the movie never gives us a clear answer as to what happened or which side struck first, which was a sticking point for the military, who were insistent that the film give a straight forward answer. However, the point the film is clearly trying to make is that, in the end … it doesn’t matter who fired first, as all sides of the living pay the consequences. The cast is all very effective in conveying both the pathos and dread of the event, and it helps that most of the cast isn’t very recognizable. Although, there are two note-worthy exceptions, with John Lithgow playing a quite local, who seemed to be most aware of the inevitable, and possibly even the most excepting of man-kinds fate. Steven Guttenberg, famous for his comedic roles in films like “It Takes Two”, and the “Police Academy” movies, turns in what could well be the best dramatic performance of his carrier, as a level headed survivalist, who's just trying to help those close to him get through the end times.    

   Perhaps the most effective detail of the whole film is during the main bombing sequence. Rather than show an onslaught of people dying, the film takes an almost artistic approach by going another step further … focusing on humanity in general dying. We get these still-shots of people at weddings, birthdays and other daily events, frozen in place, and then suddenly reduced to skeletons. While the effect is kind of cheap-looking, it’s the intent behind the imagery that really hits an emotional cord. 

The low-budget look and presentation of the film also helps to make the event feel grounded and plausible. Naturally, there’s a number of grizzly details on display, like seeing the prolonged exposure of radiation slowly killing people. However, it’s the other implied details that make me feel sick to my stomach. For example, there’s a sequence with a farmer who’s trying to encourage locals to grow new crops … except there’s no longer any clean land to grow healthy plants or vegetables … which means the populous will eventually starve to death. There’s also a boy who loses his sight during the blast, and in the aftermath, a doctor comments that even if he retained his vision, there would still be nothing to see. Another gut-wrenching detail is when a family chooses to leave their pet dog outside to die in the radiation storm, because in a fight for survival, you can only afroed to feed a select number. Aside from one new-born baby, the movie never really gives you any kind of release from the depressing apocalyptic aftermath, and closes on two bitter strangers offering their last shred of humanity to comfort each-other in the blackness ahead. 

    All these years later, I still find this film to be a powerful, potent drama, and one that continues to hold relevance in our day and age. While not a very positive viewing experience, it’s one of those rare movies that I feel everyone needs to watch at least once … not necessarily to live out their days in fear, but to respect, and hopefully learn from the potential danger depicted in the film. Disaster movies in general take potentially terrifying “What if” scenarios, and exploits them as over-blown, special effects driven excitement ... which certainly has its place, but are too often over-utilized. “The Day After” is one of the special exceptions, in which it isn’t driven by spectacle, and aims to be as real, as practical, and as brutally grim as posable. Although, it still concludes with a foot-note stating that the events of the film do not properly represent a real nuclear-war, and that the actual thing would be a million times worse. In other words, the bleak and depressing tone of this film is sunshine and rainbows compared to the real thing. Personally, I think this movie can best be summed-up by the famous line of Mr. Scrooge from “A Christmas Carol” … “Are these the shadows of things that will be … or are they the shadows of things may be” … and in the end, it all depends on how we take this knowledge moving forward.  

Thanks for reading my review of the 1983 movie Drama “The Day After” … and continue to look for substance in the stories and films you view.     

My Top 10 Animated Disney Shows

   Of all the TV stations I grew up with back in the 90’s, I watched Disney cartoons more than anything. For me, the 90’s was Disney channel’s golden age, featuring some of their most timeless TV shows, and any child who grew up with them will always have long lasting nostalgic fondness. Even into my adult years, Disney still manages to turn out some quality animated programs that still appeal to my inner child. So, for this list, I'll be counting down my personal favorite animated Programs from Disney, some new, but mostly ones that I grew up with. My only condition is that I won’t be including any “Star Wars” or “Marvel” branded shows, as I feel they belong on a different list all together.

 

#10 “Darkwing Duck” (1991-1992)  

Building on the universe of the already successful “Duck Tales” series came a highly original satire of the superhero genera simply called “Darkwing Duck”. While it’s clearly paying homage to Batman and other dark comic books, this show was also very clever with its approach by giving us a protagonist that was only fighting crime for fame and attention. 

Yeah … in a rare move by Disney, Darkwing Duck was the first ego driven hero, and it was hilarious for that. Not to say he wouldn’t do anything heroic, but sometimes you just need a stick in the mud to balance out all the other super heroes. With voice actor Jim Cummings on the top of his game in the role of Darkwing Duck, it made for a memorable character to stand apart from other Disney leads. Along with a solid line-up of supporting players, and fun gallery of villains, this series stands as a memorable childhood pass time, and still a classic all these years later.        

 

#9 “Aladdin: The Series” (1994-1995) 

Following after the events of Disney’s classic movie, Aladdin and friends travel the globe in search of new adventures, as well as protect their kingdom from various new threats. 

The movie “Aladdin” was already one of my favorite Disney properties, and it seemed like a good one to expand on. The Arabian Knights setting offered many possibilities for new adventures with our favorite characters from the film. The show also featured a colorful cast of memorable villains, giant monsters, and exotic locations. While the show hasn’t exactly aged as well as other Disney shows, it was still a lot of fun to grow up with, and still has some excitement that’s worth looking back on.   

 

#8. “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-2015) 

It’s Summer time, and when two brothers have nothing but imagination, and lots of time to spare … it’s time to get creative, fun, and do implausible things … like building a roller coaster in their backyard, or a star ship that’ll launch into space, or maybe even a Time Machine, because why not … and all while the parents are completely oblivious to what goes on around them. With such a simple formula and oddly designed characters, I never would have guessed that such a show could possibly appeal to me … but low and behold, this show was quiet the pleasant breath of fresh air. 

In many respects, it’s Disney’s equivalent of “Animaniacs”, in which a wild assortment of different characters lend themselves to creative formula’s, and brought to life with a healthy sense of comedy, catchy songs, bright colors, and very clever righting. The characters are all irresistibly lovable, and the mini-adventures they have at home brought my inner child to life, and to extent made me jealous I didn’t grow-up with this program. It was the Disney channels longest lasting animated program, and for good reason … as it gave me hope that kids for a new generation can have exceptional programs that are just as appealing as what I grew-up with.    

 

#7 “Kim Possible” (2002-2007) 

On the surface, teenager Kim Possible and her best friend Ron may appear like ordinary high-schoolers … yet secretly are spies, who go on various missions across the world, and battle a rouges gallery of colorful villains. 

When this show first came out, I was in Middle school, and wasn’t really watching cartoons for kids anymore. However, my little sister was watching it at the time, and I distinctly remember while I was working on homework, I’d scoot over to the couch and join her. It was both a comedy and action series, with something to appeal to a wide audience, and all these years later … it’s still a spirited animated series, with a rewarding sense of fun. The design and style of the show was very Anime inspired, the jokes worked, and the characters had their distinct screen appeals. It’s a show that’s been regarded as a classic, and for good reason, as it really is one of Disney’s best TV offerings.    

 

#6. “The Little Mermaid: The Series” (1992-1993) 

Set before the events of Disney’s 1989 classic “The Little Mermaid”, this series highlighted the early adventures that Princess Ariel and friends embarked on under the sea. This wasn’t the first, or the last Disney TV show to be adapted from one of their movies, but for whatever it’s worth, I remember watching this one far more than either the “Aladdin” or “101 Dalmatians” spin-offs. 

You wouldn’t think that a princess themed show would be that interesting to a small boy, but “The Little Mermaid” series was actually just as much for boys as it was for girls, if not more so. It gave us underwater adventures that revolved around defrosted Dinosaurs, fire breathing sea dragons, an ancient Cyclops, pirates and evil doctors. Fortunately, everything balanced out with its wholesome characters, a colorful underwater world, musical numbers, and good moral values for young viewers. If the movie was already a Disney staple, then this series was a solid continuation of what made it so great.

 

#5 “Tangled: The Series” (2017-2020) 

From one Disney Princess adaption to another, this series follows after the events of the movie “Tangled”, and follows Princess Rapunzel, as she and friends venture out into the wilderness, go from one exciting encounter to another, and all while solving a complicated mystery surrounding both her long hair, and mysterious magic rocks that have appeared across the land. 

All the charm and appeal of the movie affectively caries over into this series, with the characters developing further, along with equally engaging new characters, and a surprisingly compelling story at the center, with many unexpected twists, and thrills along the way. The songs are arguably the best of any animated Disney program, the tone wasn’t afraid to get a little edgy at times, and in the long run, it expands the setting in a way that makes the Tangled universe one of Disney’s greatest. If you liked the movie, be sure to give this series a watch, because it went the extra mile, and crafted something that was a hundred times better than it even needed to be.   

 

#4. “DuckTales” (2017-2021) 

The original 1987 cartoon “DuckTales” was a Disney channel staple for over a decade, then this new series grabbed all its winning ingredients, injected it with new life, and ran to the moon with it! Like the original, this series follows the many adventures of the elder Scrooge McDuck, along with his three nephews Huey, Dewey & Louie, and his surgent doubter Webby, as they travel the glob to uncover ancient mysteries, search for riches, foil the schemes of villains, and strengthen their bonds of family through the experiences. 

Oh … and that theme song … still the dang catchiest theme song ever. It had the same timeless charm of the original show, lased with contemporary appeals, high-comedy, layered storytelling, and it highlights that a reboot of an older show can still have value … as well as arguably surpass the original classic in the process … as far as I’m concerned, it beat the original by a mile.

 

#3. “Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers” (1989-1990) 

Sometimes, smaller scale crimes may go unnoticed by the police, and that’s when a special team of little woodland critters come together to take action, solve mysteries, and go on one exciting adventure after another. 

Oh … I love “Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers”, with its cute animal leads, colorful animation, fast paced adventures, and insanely catchy theme song, this is the show that literally made Disney Channel a house hold station for me as a kid. Seriously, that theme song was just so catchy that after all these years, it’s still bouncing around in my head. As part of the Disney Afternoon line-up, Chip and Dale paid tribute to Indiana Jones and Magnum P.I., respectively, solving crimes too small for the full-grown police to handle. 

It may sound silly giving these classic Disney cartoon characters a detective makeover, but it was all done so well. Each mystery had their own moral tied in, and the new supporting characters like Gadget, Monterey Jack, and Zipper have been ingrained in my mind as classic Disney figures in their own right … especially with Gadget standing out as one of the cutest characters I’ve ever seen, and even the shows villains are memorable in their own distinct ways. “Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers” is simply that rare, special animated program that appeals to me as an adult, just as much as it did when I was a kid.

 

#2 “Gravity Falls” (2012-2016) 

In the strange little town of Gravity Falls, twin siblings named Dipper and Mable spend their summer going on wild and hilarious supernatural adventures. Watching over the kids is their cranky old uncle named Stan, who makes his living as an expert con-artist. This show came well after my childhood had passed, but positive word of mouth got around to me, and upon my first viewing, I realized this series was right up my alley. 

It’s got the spooky appeal of shows like “Goosebumps” or “Courage the Cowardly Dog”, with the brilliant comedy one would expect from shows like “The Simpsons”. Unlike other Disney programs, I was quite surprised with just how funny this show got, as well as how exciting it got. It had an engaging mystery plot, which was slowly unraveled, and it just had a splendid cast of characters that I loved going on adventures with. I loved the atmosphere, I loved the creepy moments, the cast was solid, and the series makes for a modern Disney Channel classic in its own right.

 

Before I reveal my #1 favorite, here are some quick honorable mentions ...

“Legend of the Three Caballeros”

“The Lion Guard” 

“DuckTales”

“Quack Pack”

“TaleSpin”

 

#1. Gargoyles (1994-1996) 

Urban legends come to life in the city of Manhattan, as criminals and outside forces threaten all in their path. The only hope comes in the form of a clan of stone Gargoyles, who come to life every night to protect their city, all while unraveling fantastical mysteries, and exploring new landscapes. Interesting that my favorite Disney TV show is nothing like traditional Disney material. To be honest, “Gargoyles” was in a whole different league, and far too good for the Disney channel of its day. 

This was like the “Batman” of Disney cartoons, focusing on dark, complex, melodramatic storytelling, and episodes chalk full of action, adventure, mystery, mythology, and history. The show had a short run, but it still left a big impact, focusing on a tight group of memorable characters, fascinating villains, thrilling battles, and layered story arcs. It had a different look, took risks, and should be cited as one of the great classic action series of the 90's. Calling “Gargoyles” my number one favorite animated Disney channel show is honestly an understatement, because it's still to this day one of my personal favorite TV shows of all time.

Thanks for reading my countdown, and continue to enjoy the shows you love!