The Day After

Dr. Russell Oakes, a dedicated physician based in Kansas City, Missouri, navigates the emotional turmoil of his daughter Marilyn’s decision to relocate. Meanwhile, in Harrisonville, Missouri, about 40 miles southeast, farmer Jim Dahlberg is embroiled in family drama as he prepares for his eldest daughter Denise’s wedding rehearsal, trying to keep the young couple from getting too close. Airman First Class Billy McCoy, stationed at a Minuteman launch site with the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, is caught in this backdrop of tension as news of a Soviet buildup along the East German border escalates.

As night falls, the situation intensifies when East Germany closes its borders to West Berlin, prompting the USA to issue a stern ultimatum. With military forces on alert, McCoy is recalled from his wife and infant daughter at Whiteman Air Force Base. The following day unfolds with NATO forces attempting to breach the blockade, while Warsaw Pact MiGs launch attacks on West Germany. Life for the characters becomes increasingly strained as they grapple with the encroaching reality of war, as evacuations occur in Moscow and alarming reports of a Soviet invasion of West Germany surface.

In a twist of fate, pre-med student Stephen Klein decides to hitch a ride back to Joplin, Missouri, while Bruce, Denise’s fiancé, naively believes their remote location will keep them safe. However, the grim truth of their situation becomes apparent as missile silos scatter across the Missouri landscape, igniting panic among residents and leading to frantic shopping as people stock up on essentials. As tensions boil over, Jim prepares his basement for the impending crisis.

The film heightens its dramatic stakes as both sides engage in military confrontations, bombing naval targets in the Persian Gulf and resorting to nuclear options. Kansas City descends into chaos as the radio broadcasts emergency alerts, and NATO makes a desperate move to avert disaster by deploying nuclear weapons against advancing Soviet troops. Perilously, the film depicts the catastrophic escalation to a full-scale nuclear exchange, resulting in the annihilation of entire families, including Marilyn and Bruce, as the Hendrys tragically remain in their yard when disaster strikes.

In the tumultuous aftermath of the blasts, Oakes navigates the harrowing terrain of a post-apocalyptic Kansas City, initially witnessing the devastation from a distance before rushing to University Hospital in Lawrence to offer aid to the injured. Klein, having made it as far as Harrisonville, seeks refuge in the Dahlberg family’s basement, drawing deeper into a story of survival against all odds.

As the situation becomes more dire, Oakes receives updates via shortwave radio from Joe Huxley at the science building, revealing the severe fallout conditions. The outdoor environment becomes lethal, and as patients flood in, Oakes confronts limited resources while forming a bond with Nurse Nancy Bauer, who ultimately succumbs to illness herself. Through introspective moments, he interacts with a frightened pregnant woman, desperately trying to instill hope in her.

A ceasefire is announced by the President, set against a backdrop of widespread destruction and chaos. Attempts at relief and order collapse under harsh realities as executions of looters become routine. Jim loses his life to squatters, while the enduring struggles of Denise, Klein, and Oakes reflect the grim consequences of radiation sickness. Returning to his old neighborhood, Oakes is met with the grim sight of National Guardsmen executing looters, leading him to an emotional confrontation with the squatters who offer him food in a moment of humanity.

As the film draws to an unsettling close, the sound of Huxley’s voice on the radio fades into silence, leaving viewers with the haunting message: M-A-D, a grim reminder of the world’s precarious fate. Most versions of The Day After conclude with a text disclaimer, clarifying its fictional nature while warning that a real-life nuclear war would lead to even greater devastation.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 11:20