Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), G, 1 hr 35 min

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), G, 1 hr 35 min

Franchise: Planet of the Apes
Franchise Position #2

Movie Tagline:
“The bizarre world you met in ‘Planet of the Apes’ was just the beginning…”
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Main Cast

James Franciscus – Brent
Kim Hunter – Zira
Maurice Evans – Dr. Zaius
Linda Harrison – Nova
Charlton Heston – Taylor
Paul Richards – Mendez
Victor Buono – Fat Man
Don Pedro Colley – Ongaro
David Watson – Cornelius (replacing Roddy McDowall)
Gregory Sierra – Verger
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Reviews
Critics Ratings

My Rating: 7/10
The Dove Foundation: Not Rated
IMDb: 6.0/10
Metacritic: 50/100
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Plot Summary

In this direct sequel to Planet of the Apes, astronaut Brent crash-lands on the same future Earth in search of Taylor. As he and Nova journey through the wastelands, they discover a hidden underground society of mutated humans who worship an ancient nuclear bomb. Meanwhile, the ape society is preparing for war. With Taylor eventually reappearing, the fate of Earth lies in the hands of both man and ape—culminating in a dark and explosive climax.
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Overview

Beneath the Planet of the Apes takes the surreal tone of its predecessor and goes deeper—literally and thematically. Directed by Ted Post, it leans more into action and horror, with eerie imagery of telepathic mutants and doomsday weapons. Though not as philosophically rich or groundbreaking as the first film, it ups the stakes and ends on a bold, controversial note that shocked audiences. The shift from social allegory to apocalyptic commentary signals the darker direction of the franchise.
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Family Friendliness & Christian Perspective

Rated G, but this entry is noticeably more intense, with disturbing imagery, scenes of torture, war violence, and themes of mass destruction. The religious worship of a nuclear bomb by the underground mutants invites strong allegorical interpretation. From a Christian perspective, the film can be viewed as a grim warning about idolatry, unchecked power, and the apocalyptic end of mankind through self-destruction. It’s bleak, but it invites reflection on how easily humanity turns to false saviors and destructive pride.
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Notable Scenes

Brent’s Arrival: Echoes Taylor’s crash but shows the planet is still dangerous and mysterious.

Mutant Revelation: Telepathic humans remove their masks to reveal scarred faces and twisted minds.

The Bomb Worship: Mutants chant and offer prayers to a cobalt bomb—chilling and symbolic.

Brent vs. Taylor Duel: Forced into combat, two humans fight under mind control.
G
Final Detonation: The bomb is triggered, and the film ends with the total annihilation of Earth—a rare, shocking finale.


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