Last evening I watched the movie “On the Beach” for a second time after many years. It is a fictional story about the aftermath of a major nuclear war in the northern hemisphere and is based on the novel by Nevil Shute.

It is not violent or full of special effects, simply a story of how survivors would deal with, or not, the ultimate slow annihilation of all humankind due to radiation contamination. In it one character says, “Humans are the only animals stupid enough to cause their own extinction.” That same sentiment was expressed years later by Jane Goodall. 

In some ways it is overly dramatic with a sort of sappy romance thrown in. But it’s a powerful depiction of the results of an accidental, or on purpose, use of nuclear weapons that were rapidly manufactured by several countries during the 1950s as so-called deterrents to war. 

If anyone wants to have an eye-opening fright I encourage them to read the book or watch the movie. It may well turn you into anti-nuke activists or at least scare the shit out of you.

Ken Kaiyala
12-30-22