Roar (1981)

“The apex of irresponsible filmmaking, but start-to-finish completely harrowing even in the absence of much of a story, and ultimately more successful than probably anyone anticipated at illustrating humanity’s clueless hubris in the face of nature. Someone should probably have gone to prison for making this.” — Matt Lynch, Scarecrow Video/Letterboxd

SYNOPSIS

11 years, many millions and many real-life Apocalypse Now-style tragedies in the making, this maniacal, well-meaning fever dream / career-derailing utopian social experiment / animal-attack crucible stars spouses Tippi Hedren (The Birds) and Noel Marshall (exec producer of The Exorcist), their real children (including a 14-year-old Melanie Griffith!), and over 100 unpredictable lions, tigers, leopards and cheetahs from their own private collection in what’s justly been labeled “the most dangerous film ever made.”

An unprecedented — and wholly unpredictable — action-adventure, ROAR follows wildlife preservationist Hank (Noel Marshall), who lives quasi-harmoniously alongside a menagerie of untamed animals on a preservation in the African plains. When his wife and children arrive for a visit, a long-brewing battle for dominance between the lions erupts and threatens their very lives.

ROAR‘s loose “plot” is but a paper-thin excuse to shove rampaging beasts into the frame at all times; these cool cats are the guiding force of the film’s frequently shocking moments. Are the family’s performances staged, or is that true fear in their eyes? Either way, there has never been anything like ROAR, and there likely will never be again! — American Genre Film Archive