Wow!

It's been over 25+ years since I saw this film in the theaters with my dad. I've responded to someone else's thread here with that whole story, about it being my first "R" rated movie I went to, so I won't go over that again. I just purchased the MGM Limited Release DVD of the movie, more as a keepsake memory of seeing it with my dad when it came out---I honestly didn't even know if I would watch it. But, I put it in last week and watched it, and all I can say is "WOW"! Yes, it's low budget, but still---the movie was shot rather well---the scenes of him walking through the countryside are both haunting, horrifying and sad all at the same time (the flashbacks to him being on the spaceship I thought were especially poignant). Most of the deaths are gruesome, and the music score was also very effective in spots. The sporadic humour throughout is appropriate and well-timed. Is it a perfect horror film? Not quite---but it held my interest and had me jumping more than some of the current horror films out there. This will be one of those films I incorporate into my "horror nights" of film watching--I have "refound" a new favorite (and you gotta' love that ending!)!