A UFO causes a plane to crash in a remote location, and the survivors of the crash must then contend with hostile aliens that turn their victims into vampires. Vivid, unrealistic colors give the movie a visual presence, but the story drags a bit, with some implausible behavior by the characters and perhaps a bit …
The Head (1959)
Complex West German horror film (original title: Die Nackte und der Satan) has a conscience-less scientist (Horst Frank) exploiting the discovery of another scientist (Michel Simon) to keep that scientist’s head alive after a fatal accident and force it to assist in a scheme to transplant a woman’s head onto a new body. Murder and …
Monster from the Ocean Floor (Lippert, 1954)
An American artist (Anne Kimbell) on vacation in Mexico faces an uphill battle convincing others she has glimpsed a giant monster in the ocean, even after a mysterious death. Complicating matters are those who acknowledge the existence of the creature but intend to worship it with a sacrifice. There seem to be some strong echoes …
Read the full post →“<em>Monster from the Ocean Floor</em> (Lippert, 1954)”
Planets Against Us (1962)
Aliens use cyborgs made to resemble a scientist’s son, whom the aliens killed, as part of their plan to conquer the Earth. The film, originally titled I pianeti contro di noi, is rather slow-moving, with too many scenes that don’t develop the plot, and also often confusing, in part because multiple cyborgs look the same. …
Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (American International, 1965)
An expedition to explore Venus encounters an array of problems — beginning with the destruction of one of the three spaceships — in this visually interesting but rather static science fiction film re-edited from a Russian picture with added scenes of Basil Rathbone and Faith Domergue. Not really recommended. Otto thinks you should avoid this …
Read the full post →“<em>Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet</em> (American International, 1965)”
Battle of the Worlds (1961)
Claude Rains tops the cast list in this Italian science fiction movie, originally titled Il pianeta degli uomini spenti, as a crotchety old scientist whose predictions about a looming astronomical threat to the world are at first disregarded, though he is called upon to help when a planet that had seemed poised to smash into …
Flight to Mars (Monogram, 1951)
Pleasing, colorful Monogram entry in the space movie genre sees a small group of Earth people heading to the Red Planet, where they are made welcome indeed — but do their hosts have ulterior motives? Good performances and an unexpected resolution to a romantic subplot make this one worth a look. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously …
Read the full post →“<em>Flight to Mars</em> (Monogram, 1951)”
1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982)
Slow, muddled near-future science fiction action movie, originally titled 1990: I guerrieri del Bronx and clearly inspired by Escape from New York, has a young woman taking refuge with the leader of one of several gangs in the Bronx, and that leader must later try to rescue her. At the same time, a violent cop …
Read the full post →“<em>1990: The Bronx Warriors</em> (1982)”
Alien 2: On Earth (1980)
In Alien 2: On Earth (original title: Alien 2 – Sulla Terra), a spaceship returning to Earth crashes, scattering odd, glowing blue stones in the vicinity of the wreck. One member of a group of young spelunkers picks up one of these mysterious stones, which proves to be the egg (or something) of an alien …
Cat-Women of the Moon (1953)
A lethargic and puffy Sonny Tufts may be top-billed, but Victor Jory is really the hero of this space opera, as a manned expedition to the moon encounters lunar Amazons. When most members of the crew fall prey to the aliens’ powers, whether dominated mentally or led on by empty promises, it’s up to second-in-command …