Creatures the World Forgot (Hammer 1971, Julie Ege, Tony Bonner)

This fantastically silly Hammer production follows a tribe of Neanderthals struggling to survive prehistory and its myriad dangers – sudden seismic disasters, terrifying beasties, barbaric machismo and sibling rivalry.

What is plot of the movie

Tony Bonner and Robert John play the grunting brothers grim, Toomak and Rool, locked in a power struggle to lead the troupe after their wise old leader, Mak (Brian O’Shaughnessy), is shuffled off this mortal coil by a crazed wildebeest. There’s also the fairer sex to fight over, and this being a Hammer film from the early ’70s, the producers make the most of their picture’s chronological placing to run rampant over contemporary society’s feminist awakening.

Queen of the Stone Age is right here in the barely dressed form of Julie Ege. Her character, Nala is dressed to impress in a revealing furry bra and loincloth combo, and when her menfolk aren’t fending off enemy marauders, she spends most of the time struggling to keep the horny brethren at bay.

The film was largely shot on location in the plains and rocky outcrops of Africa. Writer Michael Carreras (son of Hammer founder, Sir James) and production designer John Stoll, have attempted to garnish the drama with a sprinkling of archaeological/anthropological veritas . But if you’re looking for history lessons you’ll be disappointed.

If, however, you view it as a curio from the Hammer shocker locker, you’ll have great fun. As Variety noted, it’s, “a bizarre and violent Stone Age horror film. Don Chaffey has directed with tongue-in-cheek gusto, and there is a succession of energetic, bloody battles, excellent special effects and a remarkably-planned earthquake sequence.”

production details
UK / Hammer / 92 minutes / 1971

Director: Don Chaffey
Writers: Michael Carreras,

cast
Julie Ege as Nala
Brian O’Shaughnessy as Mak
Tony Bonner as Toomak
Marcia Fox as The Mute Girl
Rosalie Crutchley as The Old Crone
Don Leonard as The Old Leader
Beverly Blake as The Young Mistress
Sue Wilson as Noo