Cave Dwellers

Cave Dwellers was a European film that was made in 1984. The movie was written and directed by Joe D'Amato. The filming for this movie was done in Italy. It starred Miles O'Keeffe as Ator, a man skilled in not only fighting, but in many other arts as well. It also starred Charles Borromel as Akronas, a wise ruler and teacher who is also called the Great One. Lisa Foster starred as Mila, the daughter of Akronas, and David Brandon starred as Zor - the principal villan in this film. The movie was made as a copy of the Conan movies which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The movie was featured in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. It is one of the more popular episodes of the series.

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

Plot

Akronas has discovered the Geometric Nucleus during the course of his research. The nucleus is a device of incredible power that could be a terrible weapon. Akronas feels that the nucleus must be kept from evil men at all costs. When he learns that Zor and his army are approaching his castle, he asks his daughter Mila to bring his former student Ator back to help defeat Zor. Mila runs away to find Ator. Zor's soliders enter and begin beating Akronas, but Zor angrily sends them away to maintain the image of a man who would only use violence if needed.

Mila is prusued by Zor's soliders. One of the soliders eventually shoots her with an arrow that hits her near the shoulder. She continues to stagger towards Ator's home. Meanwhile, Ator is working on his swords, putting suggestions that his Asian assistant Thong (Chen Wong) about the sword to good use. He also tries new strength routines suggested by Thong, and finds them very useful. Suddenly Mila runs in with the arrow still imbedded in her body. At this point, Ator uses his medical knowledge to remove the arrow from Mila's body. She then is able to convince him she is the daughter of Akronas, and that her father is in terrible danger.

Mila, Ator, and Thong make their way back to Akronas' castle. They face a variety of dangers, including a group of cannibals, another group determined to sacrifice them to their god - which is a huge snake, and other soliders.

Finally they make it back to the castle. Ator tells Mila and Thong to sneak in the back way. Ator uses his knowledge of fight to make a hang glider, which he flies over the castle. He also drops bombs on Zor's soliders. With most of Zor's forces either dead or gone, Ator goes to the chamber of Akronas. There he engages in combat with Zor. Ator is able to defeat Zor, and Akronas convinces Ator to let Zor live to face trial. When Ator steps away, Zor grabs a sword to threaten Ator, and Zor is killed by Thong.

Afterwards, Akronas gives the Geometric Nucleus to Ator. Ator tells Mila he has to leave, that his life is too dangerous to share with her. Mila says that she knows Ator must fight evil where ever it occurs. Ator leaves Thong behind to help take care of Mila and Akronas, and leaves. He takes the nucleus to a distant land, and detonates it in a huge explosion.

Reviews

Cave Dwellers did not do well in critical reviews. Critics have pointed to the plot, or lack thereof, continuity errors, one dimensional bad guys, and sound effects as examples of the problems that existed in the film. Several of the more well known examples were as follows;

• Hang glider - somehow Ator was able to assemble a hang glider, and use it to defeat Zor's forces. Even though the glider was disguised to make it look like it came from that time period, it was still evident that it was a modern glider. The scenery used during the flight was clearly from stock footage as the castle and surrounding lands was different than that shown on the ground. At one point, shots of Ator hang gliding showed a modern city in the background.
• Tire tracks - close to the end of the film, Ator is shown riding off to fight evil where ever it occurs. Riding on a horse, Ator crosses a field. In the background, tire tracks made by a modern vehicle are clearly visible.
• Sunglasses - during the attack on Ator's home village, one of the extras who appeared as an attacker is wearing sunglasses, which showed up on film.