Meteor (1979)

I was searching for something to watch earlier today and stumbled onto one of the classic disaster flicks that I grew up with. This was ironic, because just yesterday I mentioned this genre to someone on X. Because the conversation was still fresh in my mind, I decided to sit back and enjoy 1979s Meteor. 

Plot: The U.S. must join forces with the U.S.S.R. in order to destroy a gigantic asteroid heading straight for Earth.

Ahh, the 70s were such a good decade for fear mongering and disaster films. While this one isn’t one of the better entries, it is an interesting throwback to that era and genre. The ensemble cast is deep and they put on solid performances. While some of the storyline seems a bit out of touch, having grown up in that time, I felt at home with the Cold War aspects that were a constant throughout the film. The effects are dated, the soundtrack doesn’t blend, and some of the overall feel was uneven and cheesy, but that is what made those All-Star disaster films so much fun. The story lacks tremendous depth but it is interesting, casting is spot on, and there are moments of suspense that do hold up. In the end, this one didn’t age well because much of the underlying atmosphere was tied to the Soviet Union and the Cold War. If you grew up during that time frame like I did, then this one will be appreciated. It is far from perfect and nowhere near the best disaster movie from the era, but it is a fun trip back to when the world and attitudes were totally different. 

They Came From Beyond Space (1967)

Low budget Sci-Fi movies are often hard to judge by their cases, and this one we exception. Full of the typical schlock expected in the genre, this one does feature some interesting aspects. What is it? It is the 1967 Sci-Fi flick They Came from Beyond Space. 

Plot/ Scientists investigating an unusual meteor shower in a rural field are possessed by an alien force bent on an ulterior purpose.

From Amicus Productions, this Sci-Fi gem spans the spectrum, from good to bad. Known mostly for their horror anthologies, this entry shows that the company was more than that. While it is not a great movie by any means, it is also nowhere near as bad as it could have been. This one has an entertaining and interesting storyline, some outstanding cinematography (as usual) and some decent performances (not great) and effects. Yes, the score is a touch annoying and the costuming is laughable, but those add to the schlock value after all these years. In the end, this may not be the best movie of the genre produced during this era, but it is also not the worst. If you are in the mood for some low budget Sci-Fi, find this one on Amazon and enjoy it, I am decently sure that it will be well worth your time.

The Blob (1988)

One of the things that have taken a backseat to softball season these past few years is attending the annual Blobfest that celebrates the classic tale, The Blob. It is a festival that I totally recommend for any true sci-fi fan. After some thought last night, I decided to revisit The Blob, but instead of the 1958 classic, I chose the modern reboot from 1988.

Plot/ Remake of the 1958 sci-fi horror classic about a deadly blob from another planet, which consumes everything in its path. Teenagers attempt without success to warn the townspeople, who refuse to take them seriously.

Let me start by saying, I am a huge fan of the original cult classic The Blob. While this one is not as campy or even as charming as the original, it does do enough to stand on its own. This movie was a lot more entertaining than I thought it would be. It would likely be more respected had it not been a reboot of the cult classic. Completely different from the original, this one does feature some solid performances, a lot of action, and enough gore to fit in with many of the films crafted in the 1980s. However, the feel loses some of the tension created in the scenes with the blob and never truly captures those atmospheric elements that could have made this movie even more memorable. Plus, it lacks suspense, leaving is solely a gorefest. In the end, while this is a fun and entertaining film (even all these years later) it does lack the overall atmosphere and suspense to make it extremely memorable. If you have not seen it, and you are a horror/sci-fi fan, you are missing out. Find it and check it out.

The Crater Lake Monster (1977)

Yesterday, I decided to pick up a great collection of low budget gold in the 12 Creature Feature box set. For me, this is a perfect set of movies that fit with the mindless entertainment binge I have been on when not watching Twin Peaks: The Return. The first movie from that set that graced my screen was the 1977 entry The Crater Lake Monster.

Plot/ A meteor that crashed into Oregon's Crater Lake unearths a dinosaur egg. The heat from the meteor causes the egg to hatch, and the emerging dinosaur takes to snacking on the locals.

Before I start this review, if you watch this and expect something phenomenal and/or Oscar caliber, it is time for you to turn away. That is not saying that this is terrible, but it is a no-budget creature feature from the 1970s and it definitely comes with the typical flaws that plague this type of schlockfest. There was a lot to like with some tremendous stop-motion animation considering the budget and the era. Plus the decision to use a Plesiosaurus was awesome considering the connection to some of the Loch Ness Theories that exist. Yes, the performances the film feels dated, were uneven, the lake is definitely not the real Crater Lake, and the storyline is all over the place and incoherent at times, but that just adds to the classic drive-in campiness that came with this eras low budget creature features. In the end, this is a movie that any fan of 1970s stop-motion animation will love. Sure, the schlock factor is high, but if you can suspend reality for a short period of time, you may get a kick out of this sci-fi creature feature.

Undead (2003)

For some reason, even after finishing After the Static, I still can't get enough of flesh-eating zombies. So, when I sat down tonight, I wanted something mindless and gory. I found something perfect for that craving on Shudder. What I decided on was the 2003 horror/comedy Undead.

Plot/ A quaint Australian fishing village is overcome by meteorites that turn its residents into the ravenous undead, leaving a small group of those unharmed to find a way out.

While Undead will never be confused with a great film, it kept me entertained throughout with over-the-top splatter effects, and always an enjoyable combination of alien DNA and zombies, and enough sprinkled homages to classics that it was just fun! Yes, the scripting, performances, and pacing were a touch uneven and schlock-filed, but those elements just played into the horror comedy. In the end, this may not be the best film out there, but it is a fun gorefest that took me back to some of the great splatter-fests of my youth. Plus, it has a somewhat original ending that sits outside the typical cliché that seems to saturate films in this genre.

The Encounter (2015)

Last night I took a break from the blog so I could focus some on my upcoming script project for class. At this point, I am still struggling to solidify an idea, but believe I have it narrowed down. Tonight, I did want to get back at it, and my selection was the 2015 found footage entry The Encounter.

Plot/ What started as a simple camping trip in the mountains of Northern Arizona quickly descended into an amazing and terrifying story that is truly out of this world. As the sole survivor of this deadly close encounter, Collin must try to explain the unexplainable.

Found footage movies are often a mixed bag and really, no one knows what to expect until watching them. Unfortunately, that was definitely the case with this entry, which takes on an interesting topic in a rather clichéd manner. Yes, there are a few intriguing moments, which featured some atmosphere and suspense, along with some outstanding special effects and make-up. Other than those brief moments, much of the movie suffers from the typical ailments that plague low budget found footage entries, such as uneven characterization, jagged performances, rough dialog, and an overwhelming amount of repetitive/clichéd moments. In the end, this was a low budget entry that did not inspire or create anything memorable or groundbreaking. Plus, it is a found footage flick, which as a whole, is a genre that needs to disappear for a while. While it is not the best in the genre, I have experienced much worse on a larger scale with a bigger budget. Not for everyone, but if like me you enjoy supporting low budget cinema, give it a shot. 

Slither (2006)

After a trip into cannibalism and some global warming propaganda last night, I needed something with a little lighter feel. On top of that, having gone back to work today after a four-day break, it is always nice to find some humor to take some of the edge off the early week frustrations.  What did I find, the 2006 horror comedy Slither starring one of my favorites Nathan Fillion.

Plot/ A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters.

I do not know what rock I have been living under. I believe I had passed this flick hundreds of time until watching it tonight. Damn, I have been missing out. This homage to the classic old-school days of horror is everything in a horror / comedy that I have been searching for recently. Directed by Troma alum James Gunn, this one had it all zombies, aliens, gore, bugs, creatures and more. More importantly, the scripting was spot on with just enough humor and seriousness that you need. The effects are solid, the acting and cast work well with the perfect dialogue and the film is a joy to watch.  Yes, there is a B-movie feel, but that does not matter in this entertaining trip down memory lane. In the end, if you have not watched this one, you are missing out. Do not wait like I did, check it out!!!

Post Impact (2004)

The world outside is so strange. Weird weather patterns that some blame on a Global Warming Hoax, a rogue government administration that has the ability to control the weather with HAARP, and some crazy celestial events taking place. One such event is centered on Comet Ison, which has changed shape multiple times over the past few weeks. Of course, that led me to watch another post-apocalyptic movie in the 2004 CGI-fest Post Impact.

Plot/ After a meteor strike starts a new ice age, a group of survivors tries to find a device that could give mankind new hope.

Sometimes, I should think before I choose a movie. I know that many of these Sci-Fi cheesefests take reality and totally discard it. This one has to be one of the worst in the genre. The plot is miserable, the acting about the same, the character development does not exist, and the CGI effects are some of the worst I have seen. If there are redeeming qualities it is that there are some boobs and it may in some way fall into one of those it is so bad its somewhat entertaining modes. Honestly though, that is a stretch, it is terrible. In the end, this is one of the most ridiculous films I have seen complete with some of the worst CGI effects ever. Stay away, there are much better choices out there.

Stranded (2013)

It is time to get caught up with the flicks I watched this past weekend and there were a few. As usual, I tried to get a variety and watch some low budget films that may be overlooked by the mainstream. The next flick that is on the agenda in the 2013 Sci-Fi /or flick Stranded.

Plot/ Four astronauts working at a lunar base suffer a meteor strike that brings an infection that leads to paranoia, fear and death.

I was in the mood for a Sci-Fi / Horror flick based in outer space and found this one. Maybe I should not have. I understand that there were budget constraints, and with that, there are some decent scenes. Unfortunately, even with the positives that did come from the low budget, there were some painful flaws that really brought this flick down. The effects (especially at the beginning) suffer, the acting is all over the place, the scripting is bad, the storyline clichéd and there is zero characterization. Honestly, there were just way too many unanswered questions for this one to make sense. In the end, it is not the worst Sci-Fi / Horror flick out there, but it is far from the best. Stay away, stay far away.