BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Bill Goode Spoiler Alert - Ending Revealed This film is full of suspense, but has several points that are very unrealistic.1) It is very unrealistic that any drug would have a beneficial reaction to another toxin. It makes an interesting plot, but it's a very unrealistic scenario. Equavil, the fictional drug in question, is described to treat "reactive depression". Therefore the presumed effect it would have would be to increase anxiety, the reaction that the crew was already having to the toxin in the paint. That makes the story of Equavil neutralizing the toxin totally implausible.2) The crew exited the submarine Montana North of the Arctic Circle, possibly even North of 70 degrees latitude. The water temperature at that latitude would be unbearably cold. The crew would not survive long enough for more helicopters to get to them, except those in the rafts. But as can be viewed in the film, most of the crew were not in rafts, but in the water.3) What was the purpose of Capt. Allard Renslow jumping out of the helicopter into the water? He could not possibly help any of the crew in the water, once he was in the water himself, especially water as cold as it would be North of the Arctic Circle. Renslow jumping into the water had a dramatic effect to rejoin with Van Meer. Nevertheless, there was no way Renslow would be any benefit to Van Meer or any of the other crew in the water.

jawlaw I saw this film when it first ran. I was amazed at the quality of the script and the acting especially since this was a "made for TV" movie. Such films suffer generally from a low budget and more rigid timetable for production. Robert Conrad played a character in this film that was a complete departure from his previous "macho" personas. In this film he is the protagonist, but a man with many weaknesses. His weakness becomes a strength when the medication he is taking keeps him from becoming paranoid and psychotic like those around him who are overcome with a mind altering intoxication caused by a chemical in paint used on the ship. As the men around him begin planning to use a nuclear device, he, as the only sane one, has to stop them.This film is gripping and very well directed. It could have been a very successful Indy film. I join all others when I say I wish it were on DVD.

swanson7409 It's interesting that someone made a comparison of the "Fifth Missile" to the Star Trek episode. It should be pointed out that the original Star Trek TV episode in which the crew of the Enterprise undergoes a space madness while orbiting planet Si 2000 is entitled "The Naked Time", not the "Naked Now". The "Naked Now" refers to the first regular Star Trek The Next Generation episode in which the Enterprise-D encounters a science vessel. This episode, though, does refer to and is based on the "Naked Time" original series one.Now, to the Firth Missile. While the reactions of the crew in the Star Trek episodes were based on those similar to alcohol intoxication, the crew's condition on board the Montana was caused by a much more serious situation, namely the paint vapors emitted by the faulty bulkhead finish. There are few places where such a reaction could have more serious consequences than among a crew who has responsibilities as serious as a crew on a ballistic missile submarine, and of course this is what makes the film so suspenseful and such a thriller. The plot is very believable. At the same time, this film, along with "Crimson Tide", "The Day After", "By Dawn's Early Light", "The Hunt For Red October", "Ice Station Zebra", and many other similar movies give us much insight into how easily things could go wrong and just how easy it could be for a nuclear holocaust to begin. Thankfully such an event has not occurred and (God willing) such an event will not happen.

degracia "The Fifth Missile" is the story of a ballistic missile submarine that has been re-painted hastily, and as a result, its crew suffers from a toxic-induced neurosis. As a low-budget, made for TV movie, "The Fifth Missile" is reasonably interesting, and understandably cheesy. What saves "The Fifth Missile" from complete mediocrity is its all-star cast, which among others includes Robert Conrad, Richard Roundtree, and Sam Waterston.The acting is top-notch, despite the limitations of plot, story, and budget. "The Fifth Missile" and its expressions of neurosis are particularly interesting, especially since the crew's reaction to wet, blue paint are similar to Star Trek: The Original Series' "Naked Now" episode. But in the final analysis, "The Fifth Missile" seems to be a relatively good effort on the part of the directors. Best if watched with an open mind.