The Land That Time Forgot (1974)

 

Fun Adventure Film

 

 

The Land That Time Forgot is pure 1970s pulp adventure, and it does not waste time on subtlety. Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel, it throws you right into the thick of it with submarines, strange alliances, and a land untouched by time—literally.

Here’s what you’re walking into:

• It kicks off like a wartime drama, but then it veers hard into lost-world territory. Imagine if 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and King Kong had a slightly dazed, B-movie cousin who thought evolution was just a suggestion.

• The setting is everything. You get that foggy, prehistoric vibe with weirdly charming models and stop-motion creatures. There’s a sense of mystery and dread—like anything could come stomping out of the trees at any moment. And it usually does.

• Doug McClure leads the charge—gritty, likable, and exactly the kind of square-jawed hero you'd expect. He’s not out to win awards—he’s out to survive, solve problems, and punch his way through a world that doesn’t make sense.

• The tone is serious enough to keep you engaged, but it’s still very much a Saturday afternoon escape movie. It leans into the adventure without getting bogged down in science or logic. And honestly? That’s half the fun.

It’s the kind of movie where you know things are going to go wrong, probably in slow-motion, probably with lava, and definitely with danger from all sides. But the journey is the point.

You’re not watching this for deep philosophy—you’re watching it for that sweet spot between nostalgia, adventure, and monster mayhem.

Popcorn-worthy all the way.

 

8.5/10

 The Land That Time Forgot (1974)