The Astro Zombies
When an intrigue needs to be
international, it must be international for real. And so: the CIA, the
intelligence services of another country, a scientist who creates (he
tries to do more than anything else) an alien race. All this ends up in
"The Astros-Zombies" a movie of 1968, where the living dead are just in
the title.
The director is Ted V.Mikels who entering the cinema history thanks to
several "b movies" that still directs and produces at the age of
eighty-five years. This is his most famous work that gave him fame and
has inspired a remake of 2002 and various movies.
"The Astros-Zombies" (always without zombies) entered in "scult" list
and it’s obvious that one would expect at least a trashy fun and
silly laughs. But no, it's just a bad movie, which wastes a lot of
interesting things.
The basic reference is the "sci-fi" of the fifties, which filled the
pockets of producers and directors, from which Mikels take several
elements typical of horror: a mad scientist, the cripple servant, the
laboratory where he proof (composed of plastic containers, a cooler and
various tools lack credibility).
"The Astros-Zombies" (always without zombies) begins well, a
beautiful sixties music welcomes us, making us think of being in front
of a good "B Movie".
After few minutes everything changes and we understand what we are
watching. A movie that has a plot potentially good, but that merely
seek, without finding it the salvation, clinging to some small moment
of good direction, (one or two not more) and above all focusing on the
icon Tura Satana already become the sexy heroine of "Faster Pussycat
Kill! Kill!". The Japanese-American actress is a sexy secret agent
dressed always with tight dresses with wide rip. For the record, Tura,
will star in the same role in the remake of 2002.
Except her is difficult to follow this story, which the slowness
is the trademark. We to the "b movies" forgive all, a senseless plot,
bad special effects (the monster is one that has a rubber mask on the
face), actresses with big tits and even a useless ballet topless, but
the slowness of the story, is a tough test for any b’s fan. Slow
and slow.
Mikels put also a bit of metaphors with two fight scenes between robot
toys and an attempt, honorable but waste, to tell everything following
parallel events. Definitely the film doesn’t work, even if there
is a very action and splatter ending.
In any case, "The Astro-Zombies" (always without zombies) is a movie
that any fan of "B movies" must see, only to give respect to the
beautiful title and the beautiful poster.
The story is about a scientist the Dr. DeMarco who chased by the space
agency, began working on a super being made from several pieces of
other people. He is, as every mad scientist helped by a hunchback
servant. His invention, or creature if you prefer, interests the CIA,
and the secret service of another nation, lead by the super sexy agent
Satana, of course Tura Satana.
Aside from the beautiful and whimsical actress in this film there are
the legendary John Carradine, Wendell Corey best known to the audience
of the United States than to the European and the expert Victor Izay.
But zombies, except in the title, (which also inspired a song by
"Misfits") is needless to talk about.
Technical Data Sheet
Original Title: The Astros-Zombies
Alternative titles: Astro-Zombies, Roboter Des Grauens (Germany), Lifeforce, Space Zombies (USA)
Year: 1968
Director: Ted V.Mikels
Cast: Wendell Corey, John Carradine, Tom Pace, Joan Patrick, Tura
Satana, Rafael Campos, Joe Hoover, Victor Izay, William Bagdad.
Duration: 91 '
Production Company: Ram Ltd
