Frankenstein Conquers the World (American International, 1966)

Nick Adams heads the cast in this giant monster tale, originally released by Toho in 1965 as Furankenshutain tai chitei kaijû Baragon and therefore also known as Frankenstein vs. Baragon. And a strange tale it is: As the end of World War 2 nears, the Germans send the living heart of the Frankenstein monster to …

Terror from the Year 5000 (American International, 1958)

Scientists working to break the “time barrier” manage to establish contact with the distant future, as they are able to send items forward and have equivalents sent back to them, although the objects prove highly radioactive. One of the two is driven to push beyond safe limits, receiving radiation burns while doing so. When he …

King Kong Escapes (1967)

The giant ape battles his robotic counterpart in this science-fiction tale, originally titled Kingu Kongu no gyakushû, in which a mad scientist first plans to use the robot to excavate for the dangerous and powerful Element X but must turn to the real thing when the manmade ape is unable to withstand the radioactive element. …

The Humanoid (1979)

This Italian sci-fi film, originally titled L’umanoide, gives Richard Kiel top billing as a kindly pilot who is turned into a hulking, destructive automaton by a wicked scientist working with an evil tyrant. Barbara Bach plays an evil space queen who lives on young women’s blood and works with the tyrant and the scientist as …

Superbug – The Craziest Car in the World (1975)

It’s another road rally for Jimmy Bondi (Rudolf Zehetgruber) and Dudu, in Switzerland, where Dudu’s ability to fly comes in handy. At stake this time around are a hotel (whose one employee occupies a variety of roles) and an orphanage (on whose behalf two nuns, one played by Zehetgruber’s wife, Kathrin Oginski, enter the race). …

Santo vs. la hija de Frankestein (1972)

A mad scientist (Gina Romand) descended from Baron Frankenstein, one who has discovered how to make a youth serum and has used it to extend her own life, needs the blood of Santo to devise a stronger serum as the older formula loses its effectiveness. She has her henchmen, whom she also treats with the …

Ôgon batto (1966)

Aliens threaten Earth, and it’s up to a group of scientists and the revivified skull-headed Golden Bat to fend them off. The titular superhero got his start in a kamishibai (paper theater) back in 1931, and this kiddie-oriented movie (also known as The Golden Bat) delivers the goods in terms of action and effects, even …

La señora Muerte (1969)

Regina Torné stars as Marlene, a woman who turns to scientist Dr. Favel (John Carradine) when her husband suffers a heart attack. The mad doctor promises he can save her husband, but only via an experimental treatment, one that has dire side effects for Marlene. She then must take to killing in order to obtain …