Saturday, December 20, 2014

Movie review - "Plan Nine from Outer Space" (1959) ***

There was a time I though this movie was over-rated in its crappiness, commonly called the worst movie ever made despite being not as gloriously fun as something like Glen or Glenda? or Robot Monster. Watching it again years later on the big screen though made me appreciate it a bit more - it's a lot of fun. Technically the quality of photography is high and the script is surprisingly interesting - there's always some way out idea or over the top moment to keep you watching. Some of the notions used are actually quite clever - it's an imaginative piece.

Lots of fun too with Bela Lugosi and his hilariously inappropriate doubt, Vampira making a great zombie, Tor Johnson a lot of fun, Gregory Walcott has the dully hero, Dudley Manlove having the most dialogue as an alien leader and John Breckenridge being wonderfully campy as their leader.

Sure there is bad acting, sexist attitudes and dodgy special effects - but I've seen much worse in other movies from this period, and without the individuality that exists in Plan Nine. There was much more to Wood than the smart arse attitudes of the Medveds - but good on them for shining a light on his career.

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