Film Review: The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

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(Edited)

(source: tmdb.org)

Many of the most popular urban legends and conspiracy theories today can be traced to imagination of Hollywood screenwriters. American film industry, on the other hand, also exploited them and gave them a new life. One such example can be found in The Philadelphia Experiment, 1984 science fiction film directed by Stewart Raffill and based on the allegedly real events that occurred during Second World War.

The plot begins in October 1943 when the war is still ongoing and two US Navy sailors – David Herdeg (played by Michael Paré) and Jim Parker (played by Bobby Di Cicco) – are about to take part in top secret experiment on destroyer escort USS Eldridge, anchored in Philadelphia Harbor. Team of scientists, led by Dr. James Longstreet (played by Miles McNamarra) has equipped the ship with the device that would make the vessel invisible to enemy radars. The experiment goes horribly wrong, with the ship temporarily disappearing not only from radar but from sight. When Eldridge returns, its crew is affected by burns and dizziness while two – Herdeg and Parker – are missing. They actually tried to abandon the ship, but instead experienced mysterious and frightening phenomena and ended somewhere in Nevada desert. As they try to find their way back to civilisation, they encounter strange looking vehicles, devices and individuals. During one such incident they are forced to flee and in the process they kidnap Allison Hayes (played by Nancy Allen), young woman driving to Los Angeles. It is only then they realise that they have travelled in time and that the year is 1984. In the meantime, local area begins to experience unusually stormy weather and the team of scientists led by now elderly Dr. Longstreet (played by Eric Christmas) knows that it has something to do with another, more recent top secret experiment that went horribly wrong.

Whether Philadelphia Experiment was elaborate hoax concocted in 1950s (as most serious historians believe) or the real event hushed up by US government (as conspiracy theorists believe), it is nevertheless a good story that could serve as basis for good and intriguing science fiction film. Script by Wallace C. Bennett was good step in that direction, because it dealt with the concept of time travel and its complicated effects very thoughtfully, unlike most Hollywood productions. The problem of this film was, however, the execution, most notably uneven and often inept direction by Stewart Raffill. The Philadelphia Experiment couldn’t hide its relatively low budget, especially in the scenes that feature special effects that were primitive even for 1980s standards. Film also features some quite unnecessary chase scenes and those featuring sounds of gunfire are unconvincing and make this cheaper than actually is. Music score by John Williams’ associate Kenneth Wannberg is quite the opposite and at times it elevates the film and makes audience wonder what it would have been with better budget and better director (like John Carpenter, who served as executive producer). Paré as the leading man has the looks of a leading man but his acting abilities are clearly stretched beyond his limits in couple of more emotional scenes. The rest of cast is much better, especially Nancy Allen, who is quite comfortable in the role of ordinary and unglamorous woman. Reputation of this film could have been much better without next few and more iconic films, like The Terminator and Back to the Future, that dealt with similar subject more successfully. Despite its flaws, it had rather forgettable sequel in 1993 and 2012 television remake with Paré in unrelated role.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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2 comments
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Thank you for putting this on my radar, I am going to track down a copy and watch it.

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