Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Not Bad for a 1983 Television Movie
The Day After is a made-for-television movie that attempts to convey the horrors of nuclear war. The movie was aired commercial free in 1983 and sparked a bit of a controversy due to the movie's graphic depiction (for its time) of the effects of radiation sickness.The movie focuses on the area surrounding Kansas City after the USA and USSR have exchanged nuclear volleys. The main focus of the picture is on three separate characters. You have Russell Oakes (Jason Robards), a doctor at the Univeristy of Kansas Hospital; Stephen Klein (Steve Guttenberg), a University of Kansas medical student who is trying to make is way back home to his parents in Joplin, MO when the attack occurs; and Billy McCoy (William Allan Young), a runaway air force airman who is attempting to get back to his wife. All three eventually suffer the effects of radiation sickness. We see them slowly disintegrate from healthy individuals to melting piles of flesh. The obvious lawlessness that would accompany a nuclear holocaust is given front stage in many scenes in the movie as people become less interested in helping their fellow man than in finding a way to survive. There are several scenes of outright viciousness that would very likely occur following a nuclear exchange. The special effects of the bomb blasts was a bit unconvincing, even when considering the time period that the movie was made in. However, the makeup effects showing the radiation sickness more than made up for that. This movie may have been intended to "educate" the world about the dangers of nuclear war; but, it has remained because it is actually a decent piece of movie making. It didn't change the world (as no movie is ever likely to). However, it did give people reason to pause and think about the world at large and how there are a lot of things out of our control that can affect us in very negative ways. More than anything, this is a movie which speaks to living in the moment.
Rating: - The Classic, Mainstream American Post-Nuke Film
Some films manage to catch the zeitgeist of a certain period in time so well, their very name becomes synonymous with the events and feelings of that time. 'The Day After' is one of those films. Created at the height of Reagan-era nuclear posturing, the time in which the world was pushed as close to nuclear war as we were during the Cuban Missile Crisis (the Doomsday Clock was at one minute to midnight, for those that remember), 'TDA' details the events leading up to and directly after a massive nuclear exchange between the US and the USSR. The story sticks to one family of dirtfarmers in Missouri, an outcropping of students as the University of Kansas, an Air Force soldier who helped push the trigger, and a student who chose the wrong time to try and go home and see his parents. The reasons for the nuclear exchange are never explored, and it doesn't matter: at the time this movie was made, everyone was aware of the reality of total annihilation every time the Teflon Cowboy in the White House shot off at the mouth. The few days after the war show the debilitating, eroding effects of radiation, and although it was extremely visceral for a television movie, the actual effects would be much worse (see 'Threads'). Civil structure breaks down, creating a 'might-makes-right' world where those with the guns create the rules ' scary, considering who owns most of the guns in the USA right now. Some compare this movie to 'Threads' and 'Testament' and say those are better. Don't. The comparison isn't fair. 'Threads' explores the breakdown of social structure. 'Testament' explores the breakdown of community and family. 'TDA' explores the breakdown of the individual person. They are three totally different films, each effective in their own way of showing the awful effects of nuclear war. Although it seems that our leaders have finally wised up about the whole kill each other a dozen times over thing, I wouldn't put it past some bozo to finally push the button one day, making 'TDA' and other films of its kind just as important today as they were in the early 80s. True, it's not a great film ' the acting is wooden in places and the special effects are pretty laughable, even for that time ' but it is almost a snapshot of the horror many of us faced during the early 80s. This VHS, from the magical elves at Anchor Bay, is a fully-restored, video-length (longer than the original TV release) version of the movie. According to the PR elves at Anchor Bay, a DVD release should happen in the next year or so ' and here's hoping. Until then, this budget tape will more than tide you over. Final Grade: B+
Rating:  - A new generation viewer
I don't remember if I saw this movie or not as a young boy; I was only 3 1/2 when it was first shown on TV. I remember seeing it for the first time last summer when I was 20. Even though the threat of nuclear war with the Russians is sharply diminished, I truly understood the meaning and purpose of the movie.I was a baby in the early 80's when US/Soviet tensions heated up. I never truly understood the danger of the period. However, in watching the movie, I realize just how likely nuclear war is even today. Watching the posturing and preening and machinations of countries like China, India, Pakistan and Israel, it makes me wonder if we might not see a nuclear war in our lifetimes. The movie itself is a fine piece of work, you can't go wrong with Jason Robards and JoBeth Williams and John Cullum. It's a great script and it is wonderfully acted. It must be a tough role playing a nuclear war survivor having to deal with total social chaos. But they picked good actors for this movie, and a totally superb film resulted. The world has changed rapidly and dramatically since 1983. But the story and the theme of The Day After has not worn out; if anything it's stronger. There are still thousands of nuclear warheads out there, still more than enough to easily destroy the human race. We must never use them, because as Jason Robards mentions in the movie "[cockroaches will be] the only guranteed survivor of a nuclear war." Strongly recommended viewing for everyone.
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