Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
This one looks like low-budge fun. So... is it?
Harry,
"Nikko of Oz" here, wingin' in with a review of THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA.
Two nights ago I slipped into a press screening in Hollywood of THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA. Only a few folks showed, which I found curious considering the films immense Geek quotient. If you ever split a side watching an episode of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER, this film is for YOU! In the mode of such B-movie clunkers as PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, ROBOT MONSTER, or THE CREEPING TERROR, THE LOST SKELTON OF CADAVRA succeeds on its own terms as a genuinely affectionate, and funny recreation of bad 50's and 60's b&w sci-fi cinema. Performed straight faced by a very capable cast, and shot for $40,000 in 10 days on digital video by auteur Larry Blamire (writer/director/star), SKELETON not only accurately replicates the Z-grade entertainment of a more innocent era, but for a middle-aged viewer like myself, it rekindled potent feelings and memories of that time as well. Of course, it's easy to look back on the genre films of the past with rose colored glasses, no matter how incompetent and unintentionally hilarious the filmmaking, but if you give yourself over to SKELETON'S charms, for many, it will be a welcome trip back in time.
Not so much a parody as a recreation, SKELETON opens with "man of science" Dr. Armstrong (earnest, Larry Blamire) and his perpetually peppy wife Betty (a playful Fay Masterson) as they track a fallen meteor in order to secure "for the good of all mankind" the useful radioactive element "atmospherium." Complicating matters is the arrival of husband and wife outer space aliens, Kro-Bar and Lattis (staid Andrew Parks, and dead pan scene stealing newcomer Susan McConnell), and their escape prone, three-eyed, murderous pet mutant (Darren Reed). Coincidentally they have made a pit stop in the vicinity of the meteor and need "atmospherium" to repair their spaceship (made from what looks like a cardboard toilet role core whose construction is credited to "Joey Saccadonuts"). Incongruously, the skeleton of the title comes into play when power mad rival scientist Dr. Fleming (the appropriately smarmy, Brian Howe) seeks to use the element to revive an age old evil entity residing in local Cadavra cavern. Last but not least is Fleming's "date," Animala (a sinuous Jennifer Blaire), the transmogrified essence of four woodland animals into one gorgeous body. "Rowr!" Admittedly, the dispensable plot is not rocket science, even by B-movie standards.
While the 89 minute film's good natured fun held my attention, the greatest problem facing SKELETON is that it may be too faithful a recreation of schlock for its own good. Slow in spots, with appropriately jagged editing, dropped sound, and canned music, it's hard to say just how much patience today's audiences will have for such a primitive throw back. So purposefully convoluted and flawed, many who watch SKELETON will find it akin to coming upon a grisly train wreck they can't turn away from. That said, others will undoubtedly find immense pleasure in Blamire's recreation of bad filmmaking. His observations of visual grammar are so astute, that for those in the know, SKELETON may even take on the patina of - do I dare say it? Low artistry.
If I understood the Sony rep at the screening, SKELTON will be pushed to the youth market as if it were a recently discovered curiosity from the b-movie archives. A big mistake if you ask me. I'm not saying that a younger, say college crowd, won't enjoy SKELETON as the tasty cheese that it is, but the true appreciation for the coolness of this film will come from an older, more seasoned quadrant of film fans. Blamire's loving recreation of a time and place is truly palpable, and it will certainly strike a resonating chord with audiences in their 40's and 50's who experienced these types of guilty pleasures first hand. If the marketing team eschews the older demographic this film was so obviously made for, it would be a real shame. SKELETON is pure nostalgic novelty. Lightening captured in a bottle. I would hate to see its true impact hijacked by a psychotronic youth audience that will probably only enjoy it stoned and disconnected.
If the picture wasn't cool enough, preceding the feature is SKELETON FROLIC, a 1937 color cartoon directed by the legendry Ub Iwerks. Better suited for a Halloween themed feature than the intro to a sci-fi pic, SKELETON FROLIC is nonetheless a thrill to see on the big screen. Gorgeous!
According to the flyer that was available at the screening, THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA will be released by Sony Pictures Repertory in Los Angeles and New York on February 6th, 2004. Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Berkley and San Jose on Feb. 13th. Seattle and Austin on Feb 20th. Atlanta on March 5th, and then expands nationwide on March 12th. Obviously this sort of release pattern is being used to build word of mouth and test the waters. God speed, Larry Blamire.
For a hoot, visit the website, it's just as charming and wacky as the film.
Nikko Of Oz
Cool, man. I remember Robogeek first mentioning this to us years ago. Nice to see it’s finally about to be released.
"Moriarty" out.
