Very rarely can a filmmaker set out to make a cult film and succeed. Many times, it feels like they’re trying too hard to make it happen. Then there are the rare instances when the stars align, and somehow it really works. Such is the case with Michael Stasko’s Vampire Zombies…from Space!
Cleopatra Entertainment hit the jackpot with this one and has released it to DVD and Blu-ray in a special edition. What exactly is Vampire Zombies…from Space!? Let’s take a dive into this wacky world and give it some flowers.
In 1957, young Mary witnesses her mother’s brutal murder at the hands of Dracula (Craig Gloster) in the quiet town of Marlow. A decade later, still haunted by that night, Mary (Jessica Antovski) is drawn back into terror when her sister and father mysteriously disappear, and strange events ripple through town. As she investigates, Police Chief Clarke (Andrew Bee) and ambitious newcomer Detective Wallace (Rashaun Baldeo) follow a trail of disturbing clues.
Their worst fears are realized when Marlow is overrun by a zombie outbreak, prompting the military, led by bombastic Colonel Talbit (Simon Reynolds), to seal the town. Teaming up with Wayne (Oliver Georgiou), a trouble-prone greaser with a good heart, Mary uncovers Dracula’s plan to create an army of vampire zombies from Marlow’s citizens. Together, they must stop Dracula before his undead forces consume the town—and the world.
I really wasn’t expecting much from the film. My initial reaction when examining the disc when it arrived was that it was just going to be an attempt to satirize the genre that doesn’t know how to get there. I’m very happy to say that I’m wrong. This team is truly fans themselves and painstakingly molded this into a very funny piece with surprising amounts of gore and laughs.
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Most of the cast are relative unknowns, but they really “got it” and deliver in spades. Of course, there are a couple of wonderful cameos, including the legendary Judith O’Dea and Lloyd Kaufman as a masturbating bandit.
Some of the effects work looks really good while the rest is purposely bad, adding to the amount of belly laughs found within. Michael Stasko (along with his writing team) crafted a clever, funny script that’s thankfully handled well by Stasko, delivering a cult classic in the making.
Cleopatra adds a few special features to the disc, including an audio commentary, deleted scenes, promotional clips, a slide show, and trailers.
Vampire Zombies…from Space is a clever and wickedly funny homage to 1950’s horror and sci-fi cinema that leaves you wanting another bite.
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