The Return of the Incredible Hulk (1977 TV Movie) User Reviews

Well written and entertaining followup to the pilot TV movie

[ODDBear · 7/10 · 26 September 2006]

It's been a few weeks since David Banner escaped his former life and he's on the road hoping to find a cure for his illness which makes him change into the raging Hulk. On the way he encounters a would be heiress who's lost the use of her legs due to psychological trauma when her father died and she narrowly escaped. David also uncovers a devious plot involving the girl's stepmother.

The second TV movie leading up to the series. David transforms into the Hulk several times and has some memorable clashes, particularly the one with the grizzly bear. The film is well written by series creator Kenneth Johnson but it does feel a bit stretched. But no matter, it's still loads of fun for a fan. Bill Bixby is, as always, very appealing as Banner and equally good is Lou Ferrigno as the Green Giant.

As said, the film feels a bit stretched but it's always entertaining and probably gave a good promise for the series to come.

Swamp Chase

[flarefan-81906 · 7/10 · 5 March 2017]

The second Incredible Hulk movie is quite a departure from the first. Where the original is brooding and tragic, even artsy, "Death in the Family" is fast-paced and pulpy, with heroism and action aplenty.

One of the strong points of this movie is the villain's genuine deviousness; rather than having her thugs threaten David (or worse, kill him) she covers her tracks by playing on the jealous nature of Julie's boyfriend, Denny.

The Hulk's encounter with an elderly hermit named Michael is a well- done, surprisingly subtle scene. Michael isn't drunk enough to be hallucinating, but the Hulk is a terrifying enough figure that he chooses to convince himself that he is that drunk. Lou Ferrigno is great here with the Hulk's childlike perplexity.

Most of the film's second half is devoted to an intense chase through seven miles of swamp as David tries to get Julie and some evidence to the nearest ranger station and the villain tries to finish them off by sending out armed thugs, dogs, and even a gunman in a helicopter. Along with well-executed thrills and action, there's plenty of human drama mixed in.

First, David and Julie need help from Michael to escape, but ol' Mike has resolved himself against "getting involved" ever since his son died in the Vietnam War. Second, while in the doctor's office David found that Julie's inability to walk is purely psychosomatic, but he still can't convince her to get up on her feet. In one of the film's best bits of dialogue, Julie points out that she can no more force herself to believe she can walk than David can force himself to get angry and become the Hulk whenever he needs the strength.

A nice asset to the drama is that David's transformations don't happen at his convenience; sometimes he's the Hulk when his mental capacity as Banner is needed, and sometimes he's Banner when his strength as the Hulk is needed. At the same time, there's plenty of Hulk action to satisfy, especially the brief but effectively climactic battle with the helicopter.

Overall "Death in the Family" has enough plot twists, action, and human interest to fill up an entertaining hour-and-a-half. The one major weak spot is Denny. We're meant to think of him as a faithful boyfriend whose one real defect is his gullibility, but he instead comes off as brutish and tyrannical. In the entire film he never offers even one kind word or deed to Julie, making it hard not to suspect that, like the episode's villain, his only interest in Julie is her wealth. With him still in the picture, you can't help but feel that Julie's problems are not over yet. Still, this is one minus against several pluses in this film.

As I write this review, I've already watched all of season 1 and some of season 2, and "Death in the Family" works as the prototype episode for the series: David comes to a new town, gets a new job, runs afoul of a criminal plot, helps a new friend overcome their personal problems whilst beating up some crooks, and has to leave the town once Jack McGee shows up. In the final scene David says to Michael, "It looks like you got involved after all," to which Michael replies, "Well, it's hard not to." This simple statement summarizes both David Banner's lot in life and the series's moral message for us all.

Good Sequel Film.

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 23 August 2013]

Second outing for Bill Bixby as Doctor David Banner, now on the run after he is believed killed in a lab explosion, fleeing from the dogged pursuit of reporter Jack McGee, once again memorably played by Jack Colvin, and of course muscular Lou Ferrigno returns as the Hulk, who is more hero than monster, though uncontrollable.

Story has David helping disabled heiress Julie Griffith(played by Laurie Prange)who is being undermined by her manipulative, cold-hearted stepmother(played as such by Dorothy Tristan) Fine supporting actor William Daniels is more effective as her corrupt doctor, who is in on the plot. Gerald McRaney makes the first of four appearances, all as different characters(!) and is believable as the manipulated love interest of Julie. Plot is contrived, but entertaining, though climax with bear should have been trimmed...

Memorable ending sets up subsequent TV series quite well.

Amazing

[Big Movie Fan · 2 October 2002]

Amazing is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about this TV movie.

(POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

The Incredible Hulk:Death in the Family was the second TV movie about the Hulk. In the story, Dr. Banner is travelling across the United States when he stumbles upon an unscrupulous pair planning to poison a young lady (for reasons that are apparent when you watch the movie). Banner gets a job working on the grounds of the house where the lady lives and being a doctor he quickly realizes that something is not right. Of course, it isn't too long before the bad guys realize Banner is onto them and then the action starts...

The late great Bill Bixby continues his wonderful job as the truly sad Dr. Banner. Bixby had the rare talent of drawing the audience into his plight. It was hard not to cry during the Hulk show at times. And the stories were great. Just like the 1970's Spider-Man TV show, the Hulk didn't battle super-powered foes each week (TV wouldn't have had the budget anyway). Instead, we got to see human interest stories each week. And Banner was just as important a character as our green-skinned friend.

The action is exciting in this movie. If you watch the movie you will get to see the Hulk battle a grizzly bear, throw a snake into the air and get stuck in quicksand. It was exciting indeed.

The ending is sad as Banner wanders off to his unknown destination to find his destiny.

All in all, a great film. If you live in the United Kingdom like me, you can buy this movie on the same cassette as the original pilot movie.

notorious for the grizzly scene

[trashgang · 7/10 · 29 April 2013]

The second episode and again full feature length of 95 minutes. Now that Dr Banner knows he's in trouble with is body as seen in episode one he wanders around searching for a hospital to find out what went wrong and to solve his disease. He can't use his real name and hitchhike across the country. When going into a field to pick a fresh orange he sees a girl falling, picks her up and takes her to a nearby mansion.

The girl getting medication, being a doctor, David notice that the drug being given never can be the colour it has. Something's wrong so he has to save the girl.

David of course get in trouble and changes a few times into the Hulk. Notorious is the scene with the grizzly bear. A must see for all fans. It's a bit slower than episode one but still it's watchable for the time it was made. Excellent performance by Bill Bixby.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

(Death in The Family) is (Return of The Incredible Hulk) !

[elshikh4 · 7/10 · 20 April 2012]

Late at night, I read that the next movie on one movie channel would be (Death on the Family). It sounded like boring TV movie, with a quarreling husband and wife maybe, who want to divorce, so their true love would be that "Death in The Family"! But the outcome was more surprising.

Well, I discovered that this was a re-titled (Return of The Incredible Hulk); the second TV movie after (The Incredible Hulk). They together served as the first 2 episodes of the classic TV show (The Incredible Hulk). And according to many TV movies, old or new, this is incredible indeed.

Unlike the cheesy story that the fake title referred to, I met solid sci-fi action thriller. The script is finely written, with non-stop surprises, adventure, and emotions. It has one of the cleverest dialogues I have ever heard. And it provided the story with so early talk about Vietnam War.

While (Heroes - 1977) was the first film released after the conflict ended in 1975 to address Vietnam War issues, (Death on the Family), produced for TV in the same year, was kind of a rare work to bring the subject up. The angle of showing it was interesting, whereas we follow an old drunk misfit who wears all-the-time a military courage medallion. Afterwards, we come to know that he has a guilt to suffer, since he convinced his son to go to Vietnam by tales that he planted in him about heroism, to gain them as pure loss after the son's death there. The thing is the idea of guilt is original, with the absorption in grief and cropping nihility, as if that war brought nothing but waste. True it says lastly that that father must live again and be proud of his son who died after saving many souls, but - and notice well - not for feeling real glory out of participating in this war itself.

The casting was so right, and every actor did their best. (John Mcliam) gives a marvelous performance as that kindhearted yet lost father. I especially loved his early scene with the Hulk which was written as if to evoke the meeting between the blind man and Frankenstein. Sure (Mcliam) reminded me with some classic actors in the history of the American cinema, like (Walter Huston), namely the ones who act without one second of remembering that they're acting!

(Bill Bixby) is charismatic and talented. He fitted perfectly for the role of (Dr. David Banner), having that look of a very serious, deeply agonized, man. Sure he captured many hearts back then, not due to his handsomeness only, but mainly due to his truthfulness. He represented every middle-class angry man out there (endless number, believe me!), giving them the flare-up they suppressed, and the salvation they needed.

Unlike any monster in an exploitive B movie, (Lou Ferrigno) was a human confused Hulk. Although he isn't an actor in the first place, but in his non-fighting scenes, his face features, eye looks, and body language expressed a very good actor inside of him that left us so amazed and effected.

As for shortcomings, I see that the 4 Hulkouts were too many; at one point, (Dr. David) needed new shirts more than any store could provide, though he got them - clean and folded - every time! The last Hulkout in specific seemed extra. I bet it was there only to witness a touching goodbye scene between the innocent girl and the noble monster.

Additionally, the matter of using the ray machine in the hospital, to reverse the gamma radiation which the lead was exposed to earlier, causing him the Hulkouts spasms, was a bit laughable sci-fi. Most probably it was a pretext to connect the lead to the hospital, and that ranch, anyway, anyhow.

The sad ending with that piano melody gives the feel that we're watching a tragedy of a doomed man more than the adventures of an idealistic hero. It managed brilliantly to be a distinguished mark that this movie won, approximating it the most to be a living modern (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) that doesn't forget expressing feelings of pain and desperation, more than the action and thrill.

It - somehow - deserves being released cinematically as it was indeed in some theaters at the time. It's a very good B movie, with a smart script, some top action, and unforgettable lead, cast and sense of sorrow.

Did John Irving write this episode?

[ArtVandelayImporterExporter · 7/10 · 31 May 2023]

Second instalment of The Incredible Hulk has the good doctor roaming the California highways through orchard country. He comes across a young lady - an heiress - struggling to walk.

Turns out it's a murder plot and a pretty good one.

The episode really belongs to Laurie Prange as the supposedly crippled young lady. She's the emotional centre of the episode. Not only does she have her own journey, but she helps the local alcoholic - admirably played by John McLiam - find redemption, too.

A couple of other fine performances by TV veterans including William Daniels and Mills Watson. Both still alive as of this writing.

But I gotta mention the grizzly wrestling scene. OK, I realize it's a Hollywood grizzly. Maybe even the same one from Grizzly Adams. But by gawd any stuntman who gets into the swamp - either dressed as Bill Bixby or Green Lou Ferrigno - with a 500-pound killing machine - gets my respect. I mean, the stunt guys aren't just feeding the grizzly some berries, they're wrestling it.

Considering this is based on a comic book character, this is a surprisingly mature show that actually respects its audience.

Great episode and great childhood memory

[RogerMooreTheBestBond · 10/10 · 20 July 2006]

This episode will always have a special place in my heart. I don't often get emotional over TV, especially nowadays but this episode gets me every time I see it. The performances by the main three people in this episode are wonderful. Bill Bixby is great. Laurie Prange who plays the crippled girl is perfect. Anytime I see her in anything else I remember her outstanding performance from this episode. She had such a sweet and gentle way about her. Finally John Mcliam as the old man who did not want to get involved until the end was fantastic. I have seen him in a lot of different TV shows over time and he's always great. The show as a whole always kind of makes me sad. David Banner always helps someone in need and then he has to leave in the end. The piano tune always plays at the end to keep the saddening mood. Still this is a very good show.

7/10+

[AnnaPagrati · 7/10 · 31 August 2021]

Not my favorite installment of this era's Hulk series, but still enjoyable!

Follow Up To the Pilot, Set up for the upcoming series, and it leaves you wanting more!!

[voicemaster71 · 9/10 · 22 November 2005]

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS:

The first time I ever saw the Incredible Hulk was an episode called Never Give a Trucker an Even Break. The second time I saw the Hulk on TV was actually the second episode. Although I never saw this on it's original broadcast, Death in the Family was rebroadcast on CBS the night I first saw it and as an extra bonus, it was two hours long.

This movie served two purposes. It served as a direct follow up to the pilot movie and then would set up the upcoming series. The intro was an extended version of the one used in the upcoming series. Once again, the late great Bill Bixby delivers another interstellar performance as Dr. David Banner, now a man on the run. While he himself is not wanted because the world thinks he died in the lab explosion in the pilot, the Hulk is wanted by the authorities under the great assumption that he killed David Banner.

David befriends a crippled girl named Julie Griffith, only to learn later that she is a wealthy heiress and that her passing out and worsening condition are the result of her greedy, wicked stepmother Margaret teaming with Julie's Dr. John Bonifant in a slow moving plan to poison her to death after she survived an explosion that killed her father so they can get their hands on the Griffith family fortune. David's four Hulkouts are masterpieces. My favorite is probably the one in the bedroom where Julie witnesses the change.

Death in the Family has some noteworthy guests. Gerald McRaney makes the first of his three guest appearances as the jealous ranch foreman Denny Kayle, Willaim Daniels is Dr. Bonifant, and Mills Watson of Sheriff Lobo is the county sheriff. John McLiam is great as the old hermit Michael, the man who saved Julie's life. I always wondered whatever happened to Laurie Prange, who was great at playing handicapped roles like Julie Griffith and later Katie Maxwell in Promemtheus. And Dorothy Tristan made an attractive, but evil wicked stepmother in this movie. I also enjoyed Jack Colvin's appearance as Jack McGee, even though he had no run in with the Hulk in this movie.

The location of the Griffith estate reminded me of the soap opera Falcon Crest for some reason. When I watched Falcon Crest in my high school years, this two hour Hulk episode came back into my mind.

Seeing the Hulk fight a bear, plus Julie rediscovering how to use her legs make this episode worth seeing. I'm also glad this episode was released in its original movie format on the Ultimate Collection DVD box set. I personally hope and pray that Universal will consider season box set releases in the near future. If any series deserves season releases, it's the Incredible Hulk.

THE MOST EXCITING ONE OF ALL.

[mack3175 · 9/10 · 14 October 2003]

It takes place several weeks later. David Banner find refuge when a rich family takes him in, David takes on a new alias, and also strikes a friendship with a young lady(Laurie Prange) who seems to have trouble walking. But David soon suspects that the medicine her rich family is giving her might be poison. They soon try to get rid of him. But what they'll find out, making him anger will be a big mistake. Bill Bixby always gives great performance has the charming but sad David Banner. Not even Eric Bana played the part as good as Bill Bixby did. Lou Ferrigno is always good as the anger but sensitve monster. This episode has great tension, and action. Also an exciting scene where the hulk slugs it out with a grizzly bear. In a way it puts the 2003 to shame.