Needless to say, this movie's reputation preceded it. In all honesty, I hadn't even heard of it until I read the Medved brothers' book "The Golden Turkey Awards". It was listed as "The Worst Movie of All-Time" with its director, Edward D. Wood, Jr., receiving the "Worst Director of All-Time" honors. With credentials like that, of course I just HAD to see it. I got my chance later that year when a local theater had "Golden Turkey" night. PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE was part of a triple-bill with ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES and ROBOT MONSTER. I actually think KILLER TOMATOES is a good movie (and will go to my grave defending it). ROBOT MONSTER, which I had seen before, turned out to be the highlight (or, in this case, would it be the "lowlight") of the evening. It is far worse than PLAN 9, however, that does not absolve PLAN 9 of its cinematic sins. There's the bad acting, the bargain-basement set designs, the "el cheapo" special effects (or should that be "defects") and, of course, the haphazard direction courtesy of Wood. The "Plan 9" of the movie's title (after the failure of the other eight plans to conquer the world) is the resurrection of the recently deceased. This includes a woman who looks like the Fifties version of Elvira (Vampira, who once sued Elvira for copyright infringement), a murdered police detective (the mammoth Tor Johnson) and the vampire woman's husband. He is played by the legendary Bela Lugosi, a long way from Dracula. Hell, he's a long way from SCARED TO DEATH. This is the infamous film in which footage of Lugosi in his Dracula costume was shot before the film's release, but Lugosi died before more film could be shot. Thus, Wood used his chiropractor, Dr. Tom Mason, to fill in for Bela. Never mind that Mason is about a good six inches taller than Lugosi with a different hairstyle. As long as Mason holds a cape in front of his face, we're not supposed to notice the difference between the two men. It doesn't work. This zombie trio is controlled by aliens Eros (Dudley Manlove) and Tana (Joanna Lee), whose acting isn't much different than that of the undead. The heroes are led by intrepid airline pilot Trent (Greg Walcott) and Gen. Roberts (the inimitable Lyle Talbot). As bad as PLAN 9 is, there is one thing that I found interesting: that the aliens make mention of God. Though I am an atheist, I think it raises a good matter of discussion about whether beings from other planets know of Him and what do they call Him. However, I think this was added by Wood in order to get the funding from the Baptist church. Still, that is the one rose that rises from this trash heap of a movie. But, if you think of it as a "comedy", you might get some enjoyment out of it. Otherwise, you'll feel, as Eros would put it, "That you of Earth are idiots!".
Review of Plan 9 from Outer Space
