Terror from the Year 5000

Terror from the Year 5000

Year: 1958

Runtime: 70 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert J. Gurney Jr.

Erling and investor Victor build a time‑machine to steal objects from the past. Their find, a statuette dated to 5200 AD, draws colleague Richard Hedges to their lab. Erling says 20th‑c. items sent through device are exchanged for artifacts, while Victor hopes to bring a living being through. The film asks if future needs help or present is in danger.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Terror from the Year 5000 (1958)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Terror from the Year 5000 (1958). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Year 5200 A.D.

The movie takes place in the distant future, specifically in the year 5200 A.D. A period marked by advanced technology and futuristic discoveries. During this era, scientific progress has reached a point where trans-temporal experiments are possible, but such breakthroughs come with significant risks and unforeseen consequences.

Location

Florida island estate

The movie is set on a remote Florida island estate, known for its seclusion and natural beauty. This setting provides an ideal backdrop for clandestine scientific experiments and mysterious events. The island's isolation emphasizes the tension and suspense surrounding the characters' endeavors.

🌴 Tropical 🏡 Isolated 🌊 Coastal

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:50

Main Characters – Terror from the Year 5000 (1958)

Meet the key characters of Terror from the Year 5000 (1958), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Professor Howard Erling (Frederic Downs)

Howard is an ambitious nuclear physicist dedicated to advancing his research despite growing dangers. His obsession with verification and discovery drives much of the story, revealing his determined and sometimes reckless nature. He seeks to push the boundaries of science, risking everything for progress.

🔬 Scientist 🧠 Intelligent 🚧 Ambitious

Victor (John Stratton)

Victor is Howard’s assistant, eager and impulsive, often driven by emotion and curiosity. His reckless experimentation with the machine results in critical dangers, showcasing his compulsive nature and the consequences of impatience in scientific exploration.

🧪 Assistant 🔥 Impulsive 🧒 Curious

Claire Erling (Joyce Holden)

Claire is Howard’s daughter and Victor’s fiancée, who demonstrates a brave and daring personality. Her actions are motivated by a desire to validate her father’s work quickly, risking her safety. She is resourceful and courageous, embodying a youthful spirit willing to challenge the unknown.

👩 Daughter 🎯 Determined 💖 Courageous

Future Woman / Nurse (Salome Jens)

The future woman appears as an ominous figure with radiation-scarred features, illustrating the dangers of the future era they threaten to unleash. Her presence signifies the destructive potential of unchecked technological progress and the threat of future consequences.

🧟 Future 🔮 Threatening 👩‍⚕️ Nurse

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:50

Major Themes – Terror from the Year 5000 (1958)

Explore the central themes of Terror from the Year 5000 (1958), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤖 Futurism

The film explores themes of futuristic science and technology, specifically time travel and its potential hazards. It examines how advanced experiments can blur the line between the present and the future, raising questions about ethics and control over technological power.

⚠️ Danger

A central theme is the peril of unchecked scientific experimentation. The story demonstrates how attempting to manipulate time and matter can lead to catastrophic consequences, highlighting the importance of responsibility and caution in scientific pursuits.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:50

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Sci-fi horror about scientific hubris like Terror from the Year 5000

Stories where humanity's ambition meddles with forces beyond its control.If you liked the premise of Terror from the Year 5000, explore more movies like it where scientists cross a dangerous line. These similar stories feature chilling experiments, unintended consequences, and monstrous threats born from human ambition in science fiction and horror genres.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear cause-and-effect structure: a technological breakthrough is achieved, an unforeseen and dangerous consequence emerges, and the characters must confront the catastrophic fallout of their actions, often ending in tragedy.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the 'mad scientist' or 'cautionary tale' archetype, the tense mood of escalating danger, and the thematic exploration of the ethical limits of scientific exploration.

Tense and claustrophobic sci-fi horror movies like Terror from the Year 5000

Tense stories where inescapable threats methodically close in on the characters.Fans of the anxious, chilling vibe of Terror from the Year 5000 will find more movies like it here. These similar films share a steady pacing, high tension, and a claustrophobic feel as characters face a terrifying monster or alien threat in a confined space.

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Narrative Summary

These stories often unfold in isolated locations like labs or spaceships. The plot methodically escalates the threat, revealing the monster's nature piece by piece while the characters' options for escape dwindle, leading to a grim confrontation.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their specific mood blend: a tense, anxious, and claustrophobic atmosphere, a steady pacing that builds dread, and a high-intensity focus on survival against a singular horrific entity.

Unlock the Full Story of Terror from the Year 5000

Don't stop at just watching — explore Terror from the Year 5000 in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Terror from the Year 5000 is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Terror from the Year 5000 Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Terror from the Year 5000, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Terror from the Year 5000 Summary

Terror from the Year 5000 Timeline

Track the full timeline of Terror from the Year 5000 with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Terror from the Year 5000 Timeline

Terror from the Year 5000 Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Terror from the Year 5000 that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Terror from the Year 5000 Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Terror from the Year 5000

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Terror from the Year 5000: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Terror from the Year 5000

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