Search - Under the Mountain on DVD

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 11/25/2018...

2009 movie based on the 1979 novel by New Zealand author Maurice Gee, heavily influenced by Lovecraft. IMO this was better as a miniseries. The 1981 New Zealand series is available on Region 0 Dvd, if you can find it. Otherwise, I see it is generally available on Youtube as well. Some of you may remember it airing on Nickelodeon as part of The Third Eye.

The main antagonist here is The Wilberforces: A race of symbiotic organisms consisting of a slug-like brain and aircraft carrier sized worm body. The Wilberforces originated millions of years ago on a world consisting of seas of mud which nourished the worm organisms. Threatened with extinction, the Wilberforces resolved themselves to conquering other worlds, using their technology to reform other planets' surfaces into mud in order to thrive and breed. Basically, these aliens resemble fecal matter, and seem to smell just as awful.

I'd also recommend seeking out the 1984 NZ series "Children of the Dog Star" You may be able to locate all six episodes on YouTube. On holiday Gretchen befriends Ronny, a troubled Maori boy, and Bevis, birdwatching son of a loathed developer. Tension is already high as the developer wants to buy and drain a local swamp for a housing estate. Something unnatural sleeps there that must not be awakened. Stephen King's The Tommyknockers, which was released three years later, has similarities to the story.

Aweful movie

Eric L. Willard | FPO, AP United States | 08/11/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I was completely un-entertained while watching this movie. The movie starts out slow, continues slow, and at the end, was very anticlimactic. The entire movie is about one boy who has a chip on his shoulder (attitude problem) until the last 10-15 minutes of the film. His cousin is more level headed but although it is not poorly acted, was just unentertaining.

Truly, you will spend the entire film thinking, "get on with it!" then at the very end, in a rushed fashion, our heroes somehow save the day and a few special effects are thrown in.

I do not recommend this film to buy or even rent. Unless your a huge New Zealand fan. The opening credits appeared to be all by low budget, NZ companies."

Don't Buy This Movie

J. L. Henke | USA | 08/19/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I wish there had been reviews before I bought this movie. I didn't like it, my children didn't like it and my grandkids didn't like it, what more can you say, it was pretty stupid. What a waste of money!"

Great movie, fantastic performances

Harry Connolly | Seattle, WA USA | 09/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a terrific movie, with great performances from its young stars. The writing and direction really brought out the best in them. What's more, the world the story portrays is great fun and a little scary.



Highly recommended. It's good stuff."