THE FORCE BEYOND ('70s Paranormal Documentary)

Originally entitled SECRETS OF THE GODS in 1976, this film was re-released to theaters two years later as THE FORCE BEYOND. Director William Sachs says it was intended as a spoof, but the fact is that there's nothing to distinguish the film from a host of other feature-length paranormal documentaries produced during the same period. It's full of bad UFO photos, muddy film footage of an alleged Bigfoot sighting, and predictions that "the gods" will soon return to Earth. Host and exploitation film veteran Donn Davison presents all of this material with a straight face.

Fascinating in spite of itself, THE FORCE BEYOND features brief appearances by Bigfoot researcher Peter Byrne (a sincere individual who did not belong in this schlockfest), UFO abductee Charles Hickson (ditto) and "Secrets of the Great Pyramid" author Peter Tompkins. In addition, there's archival footage of Orson Welles following the "War of the Worlds" scandal, and newsreel clips of Peru's Nazca lines and the Gate of the Sun at Tiwanaku, Bolivia. The film is narrated by New York radio announcer Rosko.

(The thumbnail is cropped from the cover of the film's VHS release by Media Home Entertainment)