User Reviews

Dennis Weaver has decided to take the family on camping/beach vacation on the Pacific coast. Some of the relationships are getting a little frayed and he thinks this might be a chance to mend. Especially with son Kristoffer Tabori who has announced that he is leaving college.

So it's Weaver, Tabori, and wife Estelle Parsons and daughter Susan Dey off in the camper. They run afoul of Scott Hyland and his gang of drugged out dune buggy buddies who proceed to terrorize the Glynn family on their vacation.

The theme is a familiar one, the civilized man who can't quite comprehend pure evil when confronted. Fortunately for Weaver he catches on in time to save himself and his family.

Besides the chase and action sequences the best ones are the scenes between father and son. Weaver and Tabori put some real bite into them.

Familiar theme, low budget, but nicely acted by the ensemble cast.

Another reactionary film that warns America: there's a Manson family in your neighbourhood! And they want to terrify you with their dune buggies and long hair! This Manson family, however, doesn't seem to do much other than drive around being mean to people. No sex, no drugs, and not much rock n roll are in evidence. They also shave. In other words, typical movie of the week stuff with a ridiculous ending.

TV-made melodrama appears to be a smaller-scaled variation of "Straw Dogs", yet also tends to resemble the cheesier "Hot Rods to Hell". Dysfunctional family--older dad and mom, accompanied by their two college-age kids--take a camping trip to the beach but run afoul of sadistic hooligan teenagers (dressed in hippie garb reminiscent of the Manson followers). Dennis Weaver's complacent father learns to fight back after his family's safety is threatened, but why are these delinquents so obsessed with terrorizing the straight-laced clan? And why do they always seem two-steps ahead of not only Weaver but also the beach patrol? Writer Bill Svanoe's negligence in explaining the situation at hand doesn't seem unintentional at all; he appears to harbor a fear of hippies/irrational kids in general, no doubt propelled by the headlines of the day. His teleplay bulldozes straight on to a rather predictable showdown, one that indicates to us that the family who fights together stays together. Nevertheless, it's an engrossing scenario, helped immeasurably by several good (if occasionally overwrought) performances.

You might be a bit confused if you watch this silly made-for from the beginning, since the credits list Susan Dey as "Special Guest Star." Um, why would a one-off MOW like this have a guest star? Well, if you stick with it, you'll find yourself paying attention to little else but Ms. Dey's butt, wiggling in a flowered bikini as the "Partridge Family" house babe frolics on the beach to which that imaginative title alludes. Susan's derrière is especially compelling when she shakes it at the camera while teasing and tickling her pseudo-disaffected brother in one mildly incestuous scene. Sadly, Susie and her tush fight a losing battle: the jiggle-TV craze that might have put that bottom over the top was three years off, so that sweet booty just gets a supporting role. In 1976 Fat Freddy Silverman would have put that behind right out front and used this flick as Susan's audition tape for "Charlie's Angels." As is, our Susan was denied cheesecake immortality and had to settle for a very commendable career playing somber, neurotic women.

The view beyond Susan's heinie, it must be said, is not very compelling. The scenery is nice, and photographed in a bizarre, hazy way that briefly fools you into thinking there might be some quirky creative intelligence at work behind the camera. Nope. It's just a typically suspense-challenged 70's made-for-TV thriller that allowed weekly series stars to make some extra cash(and collect some cable residuals, though they obviously didn't know that at the time) and show off their "range." Here we're treated to a TV-scale nuclear family, squaring off against TV-scale thugs who can't decide whether they're a motorcycle gang or a hippie cult (thus the filmmakers split the difference by putting them in dune buggies) and have never learned one of the primary lessons of 1970s television: don't mess with Dennis Weaver (see "McCloud" and "Duel"). The only potential for depth in this movie is in the aforementioned teenage-son character of Steve, played by the long-forgotten (if ever-remembered) Kristoffer Tabori, who is supposed to be rebellious and troubled and might feel some sympathy for and attraction to the lawless mob that is (supposedly) menacing his family. But Steve, as played by Tabori (gosh, why didn't we see more from this wunderkind?), is actually just grumpy and moody and isn't one bit conflicted when big D gets serious and draws a line in the proverbial (and literal) sand. For the sleep-deprived and Susan Deyniacs (there must be some of you out there) only.

I remember this one from when it played on TV when I was about five, but I saw it again recently on the Fox Channel. Dennis Weaver is the main star playing basically the same role he played in "Duel"--a mild-mannered, middle-aged guy whose manhood is tested when he suddenly finds himself in an escalating, completely irrational conflict--except that instead of facing a psychotic truckdriver, Weaver this time is menaced by a bunch of annoying hippies. He also has his whole family with him, so the movie is also similar to both the earlier "Hot Rod to Hell" and the later "The Hills Have Eyes", except that instead of JD hotrodders or crazed cannibals the villains are, uh, a bunch of annoying hippies. And that's the problem. These guys are not exactly the Manson family--all they do is eat the family's food, shake their camper, make strange sound effects with stereo equipment, and do weird things with mannequins. Basically, they "freak the squares." But since the movie is told entirely from the point of view of the "squares" who are being "freaked", it's all ridiculously melodramatic and reactionary. There is no real violence and no sex (although it does feature a young Susan Dey in a bikini). Oh well, what do you expect from a crappy 70's TV movie?

I remember watching this when it first aired - even then, I thought it was lame. That doesn't mean it's not fun, however. Poor Dennis Weaver, cast as a milquetoast yet again, plays the middle-class head of a rather dull family who take a little vacation on the beach (hence the title). No sooner are they settled than the trouble begins, with Pa, Ma (Estelle Parsons) and the kids (Susan Dey and Kristofer Tabori) victimized by a group of would-be Hippies who make the kids in "Hot Rods To Hell" and "Outrage" seem like Hell's Angels. They spend too much time playing idiotic "mind games" with the family, who are apparently too terrified (or too stupid) to simply pack up, jump in the car and head home. Oh yes, Papa is a pacifist unlike the son, who thinks he's a coward, but events will bring Dad around. There are no characterizations beyond this. Parsons, who looks frumpy and tired, just whines throughout. Dey looks fetching, but adds little (dramatic) substance and Tabori is simply there to egg Dad on. As for the hippies, they have no motivation at all, let alone credibility. This is very rarely seen these days, but, as bad movies go, it's well worth looking out for, even though it may not sound like it here.And You really haven't lived until you hear Dad Weaver lead his family in a mind-bending rendition of ''I went to the animal fair''(?). Remember,however, a picture is worth a thousand words and "Terror on the Beach" is quite a picture.

A family experiences 'Terror on the Beach' when a group of youngsters attacks them on their vacation. Basically we are introduced to the Gwynn family who are your typical American family. They have their arguments, but overall love each other greatly. They begin to be targeted by a group of young people. The gang runs them off the road at one point, tricks them into thinking their car is broken down, goes to their camp and takes some of their stuff, etc. It escalates quickly and it's obvious that the family are in real danger of being physically hurt. That's when they must come together and fight back against the gang who believe they own the beach.

'Terror on the Beach' feels a bit like 'National Lampoon's Vacation' meets 'The Hill Have Eyes' meets 'Duel'. We have the family who are in the family van going on a trip. When they get to the beach area, they are stalked and watched by members of the gang. The gang also tries to drive them off the road at times... so it has the feel of a bunch of different films. The acting was good enough, especially from Parsons and Weaver, But 'Terror on the Beach' failed to do what a lot of the other ABC movie of the week films did. It lacked great suspense or high drama. This one had it's moments, but at the end of the day is your pretty average made for TV movie.

It has some good moments, particularly towards the end when the family finally fights back against the gang. There are some great beach location shots to go with it. I'd probably recommend catching this online if you are interested in 70's television movies, but it is one of the more slower moving one's from that time.

5/10

for the time as other reviews have mentioned, the idea has its moments, Dennis Weaver (of Spielberg's "Duel" fame) has believability as always playing the victimized average American 70's dad getting abused by some kind of horrific reality. Beyond his control, the world and its people take on sinister tendrils and horrors.

Susan Dey and Kristoffer Tabori are the siblings, off at college but not happy, accompanying Weaver and their mom to a day trip on Pismo Beach. The mom is well-played by the understated Estelle Parsons.

While the psychological undertones are there, the action is not delineated, it starts with a good suspense premise, but sort of tapers to a slow end. Look for veteran actor Henry Olek as disenfranchised hippie, Jerry the leader ostensibly is a Charles Manson-like cult figure. Although other than their garb, aimlessness and need for a "family" there is fist-fighting and wrestling, no murder. The theme of "survival of the fittest" is intimated and could have been more explored.

I did not grow up in the 70's but have studied the films and actors prevalent at that time. Also the political and economic climate as well as gas lines, recessions layoffs and a popular book my Dad had, "The screwing of the average man". It seems that history repeats itself. We are now in a similar recession, people are getting desperate, the fallout is happening now from another war, disenfranchised people and the poor in America....it goes on. But back to the film. Younger generations including my own have interest in the 70s because like it or not we have to learn from history.

Recommended. 8/10.

RELEASED TO TV IN 1973 and directed by Paul Wendkos, "Terror on the Beach" stars Dennis Weaver & Estelle Parsons as a couple and their two college-age kids (Susan Dey and Kristoffer Tabori) who take a camping trip to a beach a few hours north of Los Angeles where they're terrorized by a group of hippies (Scott Hylands, Michael Christian, Henry Olek, etc.). Will they make it out?

This movie effectively takes advantage of the subdued paranoia traditional folks developed toward hippies after the Manson murders put the kibosh on the 'peace & love' counter-culture movement. Hippies were never viewed the same after the horrific Tate murders of August 8, 1969. The drug-addled Woodstock took place just days later and it was indeed 'three days of peace & music,' but The Altamont Speedway Free Festival in early December (less than four months later) put the kibosh on the hippies' idealism forever. It's a shame too, as they had a hold of something real underneath their drug-obsessed fog (not that all hippies were druggies, not at all, but it seemed to be the norm).

Despite being a TV production, "Terror on the Beach" is a serious look at the average nuclear family of 1972 (when the picture was shot) pitted against a small group of hippies on the beaches of Central California. The score is cogently eerie and off-kilter and the hippies are portrayed in a questionable light with a mocking, mischievous manner, but not over-the-top.

This is a limited-environment flick, akin to "Prey" (2007) and "Wind Chill" (2007), where the events take place in a fairly one-dimensional setting. The main downside is the stupid reactions of the family in response to the malevolent shenanigans of the hippies. For instance, after the hippies harass the family by yelling out from the dunes at night, they obviously needed to take turns standing guard. But, no, they all just go to sleep. Seriously?

If you can roll with this flaw (which can be defended on the grounds of the family' naïveté) it's a worthwhile TV movie similar to the Outlaw biker films that were popular from 1966-1973 and on par or superior to most.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour, 13.5 minutes and was shot at Pismo Beach, a 3-hour drive north of Los Angeles. WRITER: Bill Svanoe.

GRADE: B-/C+

INSIGHTS ***SPOILER ALERT*** (Don't read further until you see the movie).

It has been criticized that it was unlikely that the other hippies would just stand around watching the fight between the father and the lead hippie at the end. But I found it believable because they were all still young and were disillusioned with the direction their leader, Jerry, was taking them. Frank, the captured hippie, said they were supposed to be an alternative family, but Jerry basically ruined it with his dubious Manson-ish leadership wherein he was increasingly turning the group into thugs to survive without getting a job. Plus, with the possible exception of David, I think they all felt bad about how they were treating an innocent and loving family. This can be observed in Frank after DeeDee (Dey) selflessly tends to his forehead wound.

If you get the Fox Movies channel, they will sometimes run this fine film shot during Weaver's tenure as Sheriff McCloud in '73. It is a slow film not unlike many made-for-tvs of this period, but enjoyable nonetheless. There are great low-angle shots of beautiful blue skies, dune-grass in the foreground and colorful swirls of billowing hippie tents throughout. The action is standard but you watch these films for that early '70s atmosphere and inspiration not for thrills. The hippies are cool and there are some cute girl hippies as well with long bleached hair and smoothe legs. Remember, during this period, fashions were excellent previews of the '93-'97 retro-movement - only better. Also featured is a young and cute Susan Dey from Partridge family fame so... watch for that all you tv lechers.

Being born in the 1960's I grew up watching the TV "Movies of the Week" in the early 70's and loved the creepy movies that were routinely shown including "Crowhaven Farm", "Bad Ronald", "Satan's School for Girls", "Kolchak the Night Stalker", etc, but this one is just plain dumb.This is obviously the writer's trying to capitalize on the horrific Manson murders from a few years earlier. The movie stars Dennis Weaver of "McCloud" and "Duel" fame as a father who takes his family camping on a beach. The family encounters some hippies who for some reason decide to terrorize the family. The reason for this is never explained, and Weaver's pacifistic stance is hard to swallow. For God's sake, call the police, beat the hell of them or something, just don't sit there and whine about it. The acting is pretty lame, the story unbelievable, etc. Susan Dey looks cute in a bikini but that's about it. Ignore this if it ever airs on TV.

If you ever get the chance to see TERROR ON THE BEACH don't miss it because it's a great example of how not to write a screenplay . Robert McKee will no doubt read this and violently disagree but I'm giving you free advice here guys and I won't be charging any fees

Inciting incident - This is the plot turn that sets up the plot proper . This TVM doesn't actually have one . The villains are bad because they're bad and the victims are victims because they're victims . There should be a reason for this but here there no reason because there is no inciting incident

Foreshadowing - Easy mistake to make when the writer knows what's happening therefore so does his characters before anything has happened . Here a family in their camper van see some vehicles speeding behind them and they begin to panic . Why ? Because they know the baddies are driving behind them but because it's the opening scene and they've never met the characters or even have any knowledge of them they still show fear . Either there's too much foreshadowing or this family in the camper van can tell the future

Oh and try not to write characters as being totally black and white . I found the script here very reactionary . These crazy hippy/biker kids represent youth while the Glynn family represent middle class American values . No doubt the youths dodged the draft and dodge paying taxes with equal fervour . They even have a mannequin in their truck . Why ? It's never revealed but you can read between the lines and conclude that it's some kind of sex toy , drill some holes in certain parts , fill the holes with raw offal and put a strap on at the front of it and you have an object that can be used and abused for sexual gratification of draft dodging tax evading delinquent scum . Nothing is too depraved for these wild kids . If they pick on honest hard working middle class tax payers for no reason then gang rape of a plastic mannequin is very low grade depravity for these moral degenerates

One thing that perhaps hasn't anything to do with screen writing is casting . I wouldn't say Dennis Weaver is wooden but if he stood next to a rack of pool cues they'd be the Royal Shakespeare Company in comparison . When the bad boy leaders of the gang say they're going to teach the Glynns a lesson it might be ones in acting

Anyway if you get the chance watch this TVM if there's nothing else on , it's watchable though you'll be confused as to why you're enjoying it

I can't believe I waste my time watching this garbage! I did because Leonard Maltin gave it an "AA" rating, and for TV movies this is usually a reliable indicator of some quality entertainment.

The acting was OK, but whoever wrote it should be forever denied access to any medium of communication. The plot is ludicrous, the motivations of the "bad guys" totally absent, and the various family interactions silly and shallow. For example, Dad preaches that violent reaction to aggression is BAD, but he turns out to be an "admirable" person NOT because of his "ignore the idiots" philosophy, but because he's pretty good with his fists...

The ONLY message I was able to glean from this pap was that the nuclear family is Good and alternate living arrangements are Bad. Oh, and Bad people happen to Good people.

I first saw this film when I was around 13 years old and I STILL love it today. Yes, it is slow in some spots but its a great film nonetheless. I am a FIRM believer that Wes Craven was inspired by this film when he wrote The Hills Have Eyes, even though he may not admit it.

A family has set out to spend some family time on the beach, just like old times together. The dad is a gentle man, not smart on mechanics but his son knows a little bit about it because this family will need it. As they are driving along on the back-roads there is suddenly two vehicles around them: a guy with a life-sized plastic doll in a convertible and two in a sand-buggy. The thugs end up running the family off the road and the trouble begins.

You don't have to wait long for the hippy thugs to show up, only about 2 minutes into the film. This film does not waste time trying to develop the characters of the family members in the beginning, they develop them throughout the course of the film. The thugs are just thugs, not much to develop with them.

Really not a good film but it's an okay watch if you are super bored.

3/10

Terror on the Beach (1973)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Interesting, if at times frustrating, made-for-TV thriller has Dennis Weaver (DUEL) taking his family to the beach for a couple days of camping but the family comes under attack by some hippies. The father wants to play everything cool hoping that the thugs will just leave them alone but one attack after another happens until the family must do something to protect themselves. At just 73-minutes there's really no room for any sort of character development but that's not a major negative. What does hurt the film is that the movie would pretty much be over at the ten-minute mark but the only way it can keep going is by characters being complete idiots. The father here has to take the top award for dumbest movie dad in the history of cinema because all of the terror his family goes through could have been avoided. After the first two attacks it would be clear to anyone to leave but not this dad. He keeps his family there for a third, fourth and even more attacks until it becomes too late to try and escape. This is the part of the film that is rather frustrating. In terms of a thriller there are a few very good moments including the first night scene when the family learns that they're not alone. The dark beach makes for a very good setting and the director is able to milk some nice suspense out of the scene. Weaver turns in a pretty good performance even though at times the screenplay doesn't benefit him any. His "good guy" act at times seems to be an impersonation of W.C. Fields but the actor is believable in the role. Estelle Parsons (BONNIE AND CLYDE) plays the wife, Kristoffer Tabori the son and an extremely cute Susan Dey is the daughter. I do wonder which films influenced this one. It does have a lot in common with HOT RODS TO HELL but it also has a similar theme to "revenge" movies like STRAW DOGS. It's interesting that the father here refuses to fight back in hopes that everything will work out and this does make for an interesting decision towards the end of the film. Those wanting violence are going to be pretty disappointed as the film tries to be the opposite of stuff like STRAW DOGS and THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. I'd also wonder how much of an influence this had on Wes Craven's THE HILLS HAVE EYES as the two films share quite a bit. With that said, fans of TV movies or thrillers will probably want to check this one out if they have some time to kill. It's certainly not a masterpiece but there are enough interesting ideas to make it worth viewing.

I tend to adore the ABC movies of the week: to me they represent the originality of plots back then. Pictures nowadays seldom come up with something new. Horror pictures always deal with haunted houses and dead kids. Or else they're Japanese rip-offs.

This movie can boast of having a two-faced atmosphere: summer vacation leisure mixed with insidious peril.

A middle-class family goes on a camping trip, and repeatedly become the victims of an eerie hippie gang's pranks. The pranks keep getting more and more physical until they reach the level of attempted murder.

Dennis Weaver was perhaps type-casted as the upright, rather naive family man that believes that if you don't react on bad changes, they'll conveniently disappear clear out of sight. Nevertheless, he was an excellent actor, and this picture offers quite a number of interesting twists. A hilarious scene is when the family hears a cry further down the beach, and Weaver gets the sight of a body in the water. When he's ran out to it, he founds out that it's actually an inflatable sex doll dressed in his daughters underwear!