Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959): Ed Wood’s Classic Clunker STILL LIVES!
Ed Wood’s classic clunker Plan 9 from Outer Space dares to ask that question: If two easily-defeated, more-mindless-than-usual zombies attacked a few townsfolk, would it be enough to conquer the world?
Ed Wood’s classic clunkerPlan 9 from Outer Space dares to ask that question: If two easily-defeated, more-mindless-than-usual zombies attacked a few townsfolk, would it be enough to conquer the world? Also, couldn’t space aliens who look like ordinary people be the ones to re-animate these few hostile, deceased assailants? Do we ask or address these questions out of boredom or inspiration? Either way, this movie exists.
This is a movie that tries to land with a crash but is more of a dull thud, yet it’s still likable somehow. In fact, hit’s primarily enjoyable because of all the horror themes scattered throughout. Characters visit the graveyard so often that there might as well be a cemetery bus. I also love how everyone knows something is up, yet no one’s well-written enough to truly convey a sense of mystery or wonder, and the actors seem lethargic, only conveying excitement or interest by occasionally raising their speaking volumes.
Plan 9 from Outer Space: A silly and tragic tale?
As many horror fans already know, Plan 9 from Outer Space was the final film for legendary actor Bela Lugosi. Though certainly not his finest film, this fact surely shapes our impressions of this film, perhaps even softening some of its rough edges. Bela himself plays a rather sad character, especially during the moments the character is alive. Basically, we know him as a mourner of his recently deceased wife who — perhaps in a stupor, perhaps even in suicide mode — wanders into oncoming traffic and seals his own fate (the moment is offscreen, so we don’t entirely know how gross his death is).
Interestingly, the Bela character seems to retain more intelligence than the other reanimated dead. He seems to be at least vaguely more self-aware, cloaking his face behind a cape. It’s certainly an ode to Lugosi’s character of Dracula, even though the old mourner is no vampire, warlock, or anything like that. More realistically, it was also to conceal the fact that, during most of the old man’s scenes in Plan 9 from Outer Space, he’s actually played by Tom Mason, who was Ed Wood’s wife’s chiropractor at the time.
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Plan 9’s wacky moments
In terms of addressing the film’s wackiness, where does one begin? One place might be with the film’s cops. No, these police officers aren’t quite baton-wielding brutes in suits, but they often wave their guns around or use them to scratch their foreheads, and usually with their fingers on the trigger. In other words, if you’re around this police department, you’ll probably want to have body armor.
Also, during numerous scenes, the interiors of airplanes look incredibly unconvincing. Basically, it looks like one of these planes would rattle apart the very second they take off! You also have headstones that wobble in the graveyard scenes (extra funny considering so many scenes take place in or near the graveyard). Basically, watching “Plan 9 from Outer Space” can be like combing through wreckage to find out what went wrong, like a forensics investigation. Still, even if some of these things are accidental, they are what Bob Ross might have called “happy accidents.”
Scariest moments?
Unless someone’s out of their minds or very easily frightened, they probably won’t be scared by Plan 9 from Outer Space, even a little bit. Still, the question of “What’s the scariest moment” is a fun kind of challenge. Personally, I would say it’s when Vampire Girl (Maila Nurmi) attacks and kills the gravediggers (J. Edward Reynolds and associate producer Hugh Thomas, Jr.). Though also comical, her fixed, horrified expression is at least borderline scary, and those gravediggers seemed like hapless everymen who certainly don’t deserve their offscreen fate.
Then again, one supposes many would choose Inspector Clay’s corpse (Tor Johnson), who also comes equipped with a horrible grimace. As an added bonus, Plan 9 from Outer Space is still more watchable than The Beast of Yucca Flats, where Tor Johnson plays someone changed into a mindless menace after getting bombed, rather than being destroyed by the bomb blast. That movie is somehow considerably worse!
The legacy of Plan 9
Most of us like good movies, but it sometimes pays to head off in a different direction and watch a real stinker. Oddly enough, this one doesn’t have the worst cast imaginable, but no doubt simply wasn’t pushed in the best direction to create truly inspiring performances. Put Ralph Bellamy in a total clunker movie and you’d probably still have some things be “off.” Then again, oddly enough, we might not even discuss this film today had it been conventionally better.
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Every character is as goofy as the gravediggers, even if it’s not as conventionally funny as Leslie Nielsen was. Also, at the very least, this movie gave everyone from Ed Wood to the crew members something to do. I can, on some level, laugh at and enjoy the encounters between the main cast and the lackluster aliens (Dudley Manlove and Joanna Lee), the male and female zombies, Jeff the pilot (Gregory Walcott), and his phony cockpit and stirring speech about being “muzzled by army brass.” This movie also gave us Ed Wood, which was a box office bomb but a critical success and well worth checking out.
What are your thoughts on Plan 9 From Outer Space? Assuming you’re not muzzled by army brass, let us know in the comments!
They say good things come to those who wait, and boy have we been patient. It has been quite a few months since we have been treated to a full season of ‘The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs’, in fact, the season 4 finale premiered on Shudder July 1st, 2022. Since then, we have been able to satisfy our appetites with festive holiday specials sprinkled throughout the past year. Specials such as ‘Joe Bob’s Halloween Hangout’ guest starring horror’s favorite Mistress of the Dark, Elvira(played by the legendary Cassandra Peterson) and ‘Joe Bob’s Ghoultide Get-Together’. Last month was a treat in itself, as we were able to witness Joe Bob Briggs and co-host Darcy the Mail Girl (Diana Prince) marry one lucky couple for the first time on the show with ‘Joe Bob’s Vicious Vegas Valentine‘ special.
host Joe Bob Briggs and co-host Darcy the Mail Girl on the set of ‘The Last Drive-In‘.
While the current changes in staff at Shudder have left fans questioning whether we will receive a new season of the popular series, I can happily say mutant family, we need not worry. In fact, to our wonderous surprise, Joe Bob Briggs has officially announced via Twitter, season 5 of ‘The Last Drive-In‘ will be premiering April 21st, exclusively on Shudder! One thing that is noteworthy, is unlike previous seasons, it has been reported by 1428Elm that season 5 will be broken up into two parts of five double-feature blood-curdling episodes. Though we have not been provided the official release schedule for the second block of season 5, here is a sneak peek of what we can expect for the first half of the season:
April 21: Season 5 Launch Party! April 28: Walpurgisnacht Part 2! May 5: Cinco de Fucking Mayo! May 12: Mama’s Day! May 19: Dysfunctional Family Jubilee!
Unfortunately, we do not have an official list of the brand-new double feature films for the first half of season 5 but, with amusing episode titles such as these, one can only imagine what grindhouse-classics will be joining ‘The Last Drive-In’s’ already eclectic list of sloshy goodness. For those impatient mutants eagerly waiting for more hilarious Joe Bob rant-filled commentaries, or those newcomers who’ve yet to experience the magic that is ‘The Last Drive-In‘, all previous four seasons, including past holiday specials are currently available to stream now on Shudder.
If you are just as big of fans of ‘The Last Drive-In‘ as we here at HauntedMTL are, please be sure to follow us on Twitter @HauntedMTL and join us April 21st as we tweet along with Joe Boband Darcy the Mail Girlfor the season premier. As is tradition, we will be hosting live watch parties every Friday with each new episode, including fresh holiday specials. The road to season 5 is upon us…let the countdown begin!
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April 21: Season 5 Launch Party! April 28: Walpurgisnacht Part 2! May 5: Cinco de Fucking Mayo! May 12: Mama's Day! May 19: Dysfunctional Family Jubilee! . . . and that's only the beginning.#TheLastDriveInpic.twitter.com/WfeTx0shNa— Joe Bob Briggs (@therealjoebob) March 16, 2023
Mutant family, please gather ’round as February kicks rocks and we shove our way into March. With the new month comes the shifting from winter to spring as death beautifully resurrects back to life, drunken patrons swarm our local bars like rabid locusts for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and of course new exclusives and returning favorites on Shudder to satisfy the horror fiend in us all. To quote the prestigious Samuel L. Jackson, “hold onto your butts” and let’s dive right into Shudder’s March 2023 release schedule.
Shudder Exclusives
While it is true that the release schedule for the start of 2023 on Shudder has been minor and slightly mixed, with films such as the much talked about experimental low-budget indie ‘Skinamarink‘, the surprisingly entertaining horror comedy ‘Sorry About the Demon‘, and writer/director Neil Marshall’s return to the genre with ‘The Lair‘. We also graciously received the wildly fun ‘The Last Drive-In: Joe Bob’s Vicious Vegas Valentine” special, with season 5 currently in production and premiering later this year; though it can’t come soon enough. As we like to do here at HauntedMTL, let’s kick off March with Shudder’s newest exclusives currently streaming now and in the coming weeks.
Spoonful of Sugar – Now Streaming
‘Spoonful of Sugar‘ official poster.
Starting off this list we begin with director Mercedes Bryce Morgan and writer Leah Saint Marie’s latest film ‘Spoonful of Sugar‘, now currently streaming.
Millicent (Morgan Saylor), a disturbed college student working on her thesis about children with severe allergies, is hired to babysit little Johnny (Danilo Crovetti), a sickly, mute child who suffers from every allergy under the sun. His mother Rebecca (Kate Foster) is an accomplished author currently focused on her newest book release, while his father Jacob (Myko Olivier) spends his days in the backyard working on frivolous carpentry projects. After experiencing a bizarre sexual awakening while using LSD as an alternative treatment for Johnny, she soon uncovers the family’s dark secrets as things begin to become unhinged.
Leave – Premiering Friday 3/17
‘Leave‘ official poster.
After having been abandoned as an infant at a cemetery wrapped in a cloth with satanic symbols, Hunter White (Alicia von Rittberg) grows obsessed with figuring out who her biological parents are and why they seemingly abandoned her. However, as she gets closer to the answers she so desperately seeks, a malevolent spirit is warning her to leave.
‘Leave‘ premiers exclusively on Shudder Friday 03/17 and is directed by Alex Herron and written by Thomas Moldestad, starring Alicia von Rittberg, Herman Tømmeraas,Ellen Dorrit Petersen, and Stig R. Amda
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The Unheard – Premiering Friday 03/31
‘The Unheard‘ official poster.
‘The Unheard‘ follows the story of deaf 20-year-old Chloe Grayden (Lachlan Watson) after she undergoes an experimental treatment to restore her hearing. While recovering at her family’s beach home after the successful procedure, Chloe begins to fear she is not alone as she begins to experience auditory hallucinations related to the mysterious disappearance of her mother.
‘The Unheard’ is directed by Shudder alumni Jeffrey A. Brown (The Beach House) and written by brothers/screenwriting partners ShawnRasmussen and Michael Rasmussen (Crawl), co-starring Michele Hicks and Nick Sandow. ‘The Unheard‘ premiers exclusively on Shudder Friday 03/31.
Returning Classic and Fan Favorites
Now that we’ve removed the veil for the new exclusive titles dropping this month, I think it’s time we reveal the returning classics jump starting our transition into spring for 2023. Allow me to highlight some of my favorite films returning to Shudder for March including ‘Gretel and Hansel‘ and ‘The Company of Wolves‘; grim re-telling’s of popular children’s fairy tales. We also cannot forget John Carpenter’s haunted coastal horror ‘The Fog‘; no, not the remake…thankfully.
Gretel and Hansel – Now Streaming
Alice Krige as “The Witch” in ‘Gretel and Hansel’.
Directed by Osgood Perkins, ‘Gretel and Hansel’ is a terrifyingly dark and unique vision to one of history’s most famous childhood fairy tales. After being thrown out of their mother’s home, Gretel (Sophia Lillis) leads her younger brother, Hansel (Samuel Leakey), through the woods in search of food and work. The children soon discover a quaint cottage where a fragile old woman Holda (Alice Krige) offers fresh food and bed. The children accept all Holda has to offer, with little thought as to what may be asked of them in return.
Though it has been met with mixed reviews, ‘Gretel and Hansel‘ offers astounding performances by veteran actress Alice Krige as the films iconic Witch of the woods and Sophia Lillis as lead Gretel. Director Osgood Perkins does well to draw his viewer in with a beautifully haunting score and unnerving cinematography, making this one grim re-telling worth checking out at least once. ‘Gretel and Hansel‘ is available to stream now.
The Company of Wolves – Now Streaming
My, what big teeth you have…
Continuing our list of returning classics, we have yet another bold re-telling of a beloved children’s fairy tale, 1984’s ‘The Company of Wolves‘. While the story of ‘Little Red Riding Hood‘ has been retold through various forms of media, including numerous films, ‘The Company of Wolves‘ is a beloved horror interpretation with adult themes and memorable practical effects including one of the genres best werewolf transformations.
A wise grandmother (Angela Lansbury) tells her granddaughter Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson) a disturbing tale of innocent maidens falling in love with handsome strangers … and of their sudden mysterious disappearances when the moon is full and accompanied by the strange sound of a beast in the woods.
Writer, director, musician, and horror master John Carpenter is a legend in the genre having provided countless classics such as ‘The Thing‘, a terrifyingly gruesome remake of ‘The Thing from Another World‘. Or his sci-fi action/horror ‘They Live’ where he deals with societal control through corporations and government. And of course, my personal favorite, the film that jumpstarted his career and created one of horror’s most iconic slashers…’Halloween‘.
1980’s ‘The Fog‘ is a terrifying shoreside tale of vengeful spirits haunting the fictional coastal town of Antonio Bay, OR. as they begin preparations to celebrate its centenary. Following exactly 100 years after a ship mysteriously sank in the town’s waters, a thick unearthly fog harboring the souls of those who perished rolls in and with them, the dark secrets of Antonio Bay’s past.
For a full comprehensive list of all the titles being added to Shudder for the month of January, please refer to the graphic below. Please be on the lookout for our review of ‘The Last Drive-In: Joe Bob’s Vicious Vegas Valentine’ to drop later this week here on HauntedMTL and be sure to follow us on Twitterand Instagramfor more Shudder news and spooky reviews!
Shudder March 2023 film release schedule.
3/1:
Gretel and Hansel
3/2:
Spoonful of Sugar
3/9:
The Company of Wolves
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3/13:
Holidays
3/17:
Leave
3/20:
Jack be Nimble
3/27:
Ultra Pulpe
After Blue
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3/31:
The Unheard
The Fog
The Blair Witch Project & Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
So this isn’t a review but more just some thoughts…
I have to admit that I actually like the She Wolf music video by Shakira.
Maybe partly because my Zumba group back in the day used to dance to it with all of us cautioned to not to look up the music video for fear it would be too risque or something… (The Zumba dance to this was one of my favorites, and I loved our group of mostly 60+ year old retirees for all that some of them did act surprised at these things, whether or not they actually were.) Or maybe partly because it reminds me of Madonna’s Express Yourself, or by extension the famous dance scene in Metropolis directed by Fritz Lang.
It’s a guilty pleasure.
The ways these things evolve and stay the same over time fascinates me, especially how the messaging and movement change, and yet stay the same.
Shakira She Wolf
Madonna Express Yourself
Metropolis dance scene
Anyway, I created this artwork based upon the She Wolf video and song, incorporating a Hazelle puppet head atop a modern Barbie doll body. I don’t recall what happened to Barbie’s actual head though I’m pretty sure I needed it for another project. (Technically I needed the body for another project too, and this was just a stopover.) Years ago this piece found itself part of the Women’s Caucus for Art website as one of the chosen artworks for the year. I was going to try to write something to go with it for Haunted MTL but instead I thought I’d share it as a lead up to my revisitation of my werewolf story from St. Patrick’s Day last year.
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Stevie
February 3, 2022 at 5:53 pm
I never got people who said this film was the worst thing in existence.
I mean it’s enjoyable fun albeit forgettable.
Plus other films I’ve watched considered better really. . . weren’t XD