Paul Jenson is the main antagonist of the 1977 horror film Day of the Animals.
He was portrayed by the late Leslie Nielsen, who also played Richard Vickers in the 1982 Stephen King anthology horror film Creepshow, in the segment "Something to Tide You Over", Colonel Chi in the 1993 film Surf Ninjas and Dracula in the 1995 film Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
Biography[]
Paul Jenson is a man who is an advertising executive for a company, living in a world where the ozone layer is depleted caused by CFC aerosols has been causing increased exposure to UV radiation at high altitudes. Scientists observe that animals over five thousand feet in altitude have become highly aggressive toward humans. Paul is staying at a place in Northern California at an alpine at Murphy's Hotel getting ready to go on a nature hike.
Steve Buckner, the leader of the group of hikers Paul is then set off and, after a short rest, the group is introduced: Professor MacGregor, an anthropologist; Frank and Mandy Young, a bickering married couple; a wealthy older woman, Shirley Goodwyn and her son, Johnny, Bob Denning and Beth Hughes, a teenage couple; Roy Moore, a former professional football player sidelined by cancer; Terry Marsh, a television reporter; and Daniel Santee, a Native American guide and the steadiest person among them.
The group lose Mandy, who was attacked by hawks and things start to get really bad for the group. Meanwhile, as the rest of the hikers continue down the mountain, Johnny picks up snatches of radio reports about an ozone emergency, resulting in a chemical imbalance in the forest. When Johnny alarms the other hikers, Shirley shouts at him and accidentally knocks his radio into a creek. When the hikers reach a spot where food has been left for them, they find that the boxes have been ripped apart by raiding animals and nothing is left. Jenson, challenging Steve's competence, says the group should stay there and wait for a helicopter to return, but Steve insists on pushing on down the mountain.
Jenson (who is clearly growing more deranged due to the solar radiation now affecting his mind) says he is going to walk back up the mountain to the ranger tower, which is closer than the village. He convinces Shirley, Johnny, Bob and Beth to go with him, as the others continue down the mountain. That night, as lightning flashes and rain pours, Jenson, now completely insane, abuses Shirley cause she is complaining that they were better off with Buckner's group. Jenson tells her to keep moving and shoves her hard. Johnny comes to his mom's defense and Jenson grabs Johnny and threatens to kill Johnny by shoving him off the cliff.
Bob and Beth realize that they have made a mistake by coming with Jenson, as he is the only human now affected by the sun's radiation. Jenson keeps his group going and they are so tired. Bob tells Jenson they need rest. Jenson gets into an argument with Bob about who's in charge and tries to go after Beth. Jenson kills Bob by impaling him with his walking stick. As he drags Beth away to rape her, a large grizzly bear appears. Jenson wrestles the bear, which kills him by biting a chunk of his neck out and then devouring him. Shirley and Johnny grab Beth and run away.
Trivia[]
- Paul Jenson is the only human affected by the sun’s radiation, causing him to turn aggressive and violent.
Gallery[]
