The world has been devastated by nuclear war. In a valley that is protected by mountains lined with lead ore, former Naval Intelligence Officer Captain Jim Maddison (Paul Birch) has prepared for this eventuality and survived, along with his attractive teenage daughter Louise (Lori Nelson) and her likeable geologist friend Rick (Richard Denning).
They are interrupted by the arrival of Italian mob hood Tony Lamont (Mike “Touch” Connors) and his stripper girlfriend, Ruby (Adele Jergens), as well as an ageing and drunken gold prospector called Pete (Raymond Hatton) who turns up with his burro, Diablo.
Jim is unwilling to admit the others because they have limited supplies, but Louise insists. Soon after, tensions begin to emerge in the house as Rick is drawn to Ruby and Tony makes moves on Louise.
Meanwhile, they are menaced by a human survivor who has been transformed into a three-eyed meat-eating mutant with an armoured shell that is impervious to bullets (Paul Blaisdell).
One of the first films ever made by legendary B-movie producer/director Roger Corman, Day The World Ended was filmed in nine days on a painfully small budget.
The film takes place in a single set (with limited location shooting), and the photography and lighting are crude but the interactions, conflicts and emotions of the characters are first class, and it’s definitely worth watching.
Rick
Richard Denning
Louise Maddison
Lori Nelson
Ruby
Adele Jergens
Tony Lamont
Mike Connors
Jim Maddison
Paul Birch
Pete
Raymond Hatton
Radek
Paul Dubov
Contaminated Man
Jonathan Haze
Mutant
Paul Blaisdell
Director
Roger Corman