Main Cast: Barry Sullivan, Norma Bengell, Angel Aranda, Evi Marandi, Fernando Villena
Release Year: 1965
Country: ES/IT
Run Time: 86 minutes
Plot
This classic blend of science-fiction and horror belies its extremely low budget with buckets of atmosphere and some genuinely creepy setpieces. The story concerns the crews of two spaceships, who land on a foggy, seemingly deserted planet. What they don't know is that the planet was home to a race of vampiric aliens, who possess their minds, eventually rising from their strange, misty graves to seek human blood. Legendary director Mario Bava once again proves himself a master at atmospheric composition, using color, sound, and minimalistic sets in original and unnerving ways. Barry Sullivan stars with Angel Aranda and Brazilian actress Norma Bengell. The American version, running several minutes shorter than the original, was put together by Ib Melchior (The Angry Red Planet). ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Review
Though not considered one of director Mario Bava's greatest achievements, Planet of the Vampires is nevertheless a pulp science-fiction lover's dream. Many of the director's stylistic trademarks are well represented here, from his extensive use of color filters to his imaginative camera shots and gothic horror preoccupations. At times, the film looks like a pulp cover come to life -- the garish primary- color glow of the alien landscape; the undead crewmen, wrapped in plastic, rising from their makeshift metal tombs; the discovery of the massive "vampire" skeletons inside the creatures' crashed spacecraft; and the crew wearing tight black leather uniforms with lightning bolt insignias on their chests. Bava makes the most out of his limited budget, giving the film a surreal pop art glow that puts many bigger productions to shame. Along with It! The Terror From Beyond Space (1958), this atmospheric sci-fi shocker would go on to influence Ridley Scott's big-budget B-movie, Alien (1979). ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide
Stelio Candelli - Mud; Massimo Righi - Nordeg; Mario Morales - Eldon; Ivan Rassimov - Kell; Rick Boyd - Keir/Key; Alberto Cevenini - Wan
Credit
Giorgio Giovannini - Art Director, Salvatore Billitteri - Associate Producer, Gabriele Mayer - Costume Designer, Mario Bava - Director, Antonio Gimeno - Editor, Romana Fortini - Editor, Antonio Perez Olea - Composer (Music Score), Gino Marinuzzi, Jr. - Composer (Music Score), Amato Garbini - Makeup, Antonio Rinaldi - Cinematographer, Samuel Z. Arkoff - Producer, Fulvio Lucisano - Producer, James H. Nicholson - Producer, Giorgio Giovannini - Set Designer, Mario Bava - Screenwriter, Alberto Bevilacqua - Screenwriter, Louis M. Heyward - Screenwriter, Ib Melchior - Screenwriter, Antonio Román - Screenwriter, Callisto Cosulich - Screenwriter, Rafael J. Salvia - Screenwriter
