The Missing Link

Written, directed, and photographed by David and Carol Hughes, this strange little film features breathtaking nature cinematography, as it chronicles the story of an Australopithecus man-ape whose family is slaughtered by a tribe of men who have discovered weapons. Told with minimal narration, the story follows the "'missing link"'s solitary journey through the African wilds, across a desert wasteland, and finally, to the foot of the ocean. Peter Elliott, in a non-speaking role, is the good-natured link (underneath the impressive make-up of virtuoso Rick Baker) who observes a fantastic array of wildlife busily working out the balance of nature, and, occasionally, even interacts with some. His sharing of a beetle dinner with a lizard is one of the grotesquely comic highlights of the film. Likely to be quickly lost in the onslaught of blockbuster video releases, this unusual gem is highly recommended. (R. Pitman)