The Clan of the Cave Bear

R

Released Jan 17, 1986

1 hr. 38 min.

Adventure

List

10%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Based on Jean Auel's best-selling novel of a golden-haired orphan raised by a primitive prehistoric tribe.

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matthias s

"Clan of the Cave Bear" is like a campfire that starts off with a promising spark but quickly fizzles into a smoky disappointment. This film boasts commendable acting, with Daryl Hannah giving it her all as Ayla, the orphaned Cro-Magnon girl struggling to survive in a harsh prehistoric world. However, the story seems to have taken a siesta, leaving us with cavemen scratching their heads, wondering what they're doing on screen. The biggest head-scratcher of all is the unnecessary voice-over narration, which feels like a chatty caveman trying to explain the obvious. It's as if the filmmakers thought we couldn't figure out what's happening in this mostly wordless world. Well, guess what? We can! The film's beautiful landscapes and well-crafted costumes are its saving grace. Still, they can't mask the fact that there's too little substance to stretch across an entire movie. "Clan of the Cave Bear" ends up being a snooze-fest that even a saber-toothed tiger cameo couldn't save. So, unless you're a die-hard fan of primitive fashion, you might want to skip this one and go hunt for a more engaging cinematic experience.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Sueko S

It was one of my most special movies. I grew up on a farm in the days of Hercules - the cartoon. I was maybe 8 years old. I imagined myself to be Hercules, a female Hercules, the protector of the weak, proud, strong, intelligent, loving and kind. I was capable of fighting off any villains or wild animal. The book and the movie brought back the nostalgia of my childhood. Reading the book and or watching the movie put me in the character. And for a moment it was fun to live in that world. But, you gotta get past the violence and rape. Shit happened back then.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Sameir A

A prehistoric movie directed by the acclaimed cinematographer Michael Chapman. The story is about Ayla who belongs to a different clan and joins a group of save-dwellers since her childhood. She turns out to be probably the first feminist. The film goes like a documentary with not much interesting factors. Daryl Hannah can be said as the attraction of the movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/12/21

Full Review

Audience Member

The book series is great. The movie was great too. 1986 may have been too early for this. It's been 35 years but still holding out for the movie adaptation of the other books!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a fantastic movie that does a good job selecting the scenes from the book that will help fell the story. The actors have to use mostly expressions and body language to do so, since the Clan language is limited. Movie does use subtitles.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I loved the books! Was hoping to feel the same about the movie. Cinematography is pour it sort of has that B-movie feel about it overall disappointed.Cinematography is poor it sort of has that B-movie feel about it and overall disappointing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Michael Chapman

Director

Daryl Hannah

Ayla

Thomas G. Waites

Broud

Pamela Reed

Iza

James Remar

Creb

John Doolittle

Brun

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Time Out

This is Reader's Digest prehistory, though at least director Chapman (cameraman on Raging Bull) makes sure the murky caves look nice.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The filmmakers made no effort to empathize with their prehistoric characters, to imagine what it might have really been like back then.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

A goofy and ill-made movie that wants to be deadly serious and acts incredibly daft, and the average between these two points is of a joyless, dull nothing.

Rated: 4/10

Jul 16, 2012

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 4, 2005

Full Review

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

As the cave wall says, stay with the book.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 1, 2004

Full Review

Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

Rated: 1/5

Oct 31, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

Based on Jean Auel's best-selling novel of a golden-haired orphan raised by a primitive prehistoric tribe.

Director: Michael Chapman
Executive Producer: Mark Damon, Peter Guber, John W. Hyde, Sidney Kimmel, Jon Peters
Screenwriter: John Sayles
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 17, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $251.9K
Sound Mix: Surround

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