Main Cast: Wendell Corey, John Carradine, Tom Pace, Joan Patrick, Rafael Campos
Release Year: 1967
Country: US
Run Time: 83 minutes
Plot
This laughably-bad mess stars ubiquitous "Z"-movie journeyman John Carradine as Dr. DeMarco, a loony scientist whose original concept to build a humanoid robot for space missions is fouled somewhat by his choice of a psycho-killer's brain for his first subject. Instead of doing the sensible thing and retiring from the mad-doc profession, DeMarco chooses instead to build another robot to hunt down the last one. His efforts are only slightly hindered by a moronic CIA investigation (led by a hung-over Wendell Corey, in his final screen role) and the meddling of a cabal of communist spies under the direction of slinky dragon-lady Tura Satana (of Russ Meyer's Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!), apparently for the purpose of exploiting the solar-powered astro-man for military reasons. When the doc's lovely former lab assistant (she's since been replaced by a leering hunchback) is attacked by the first robot, he loses his solar cell and narrowly escapes destruction (by holding a flashlight to his head!), but in his hurried exit he leads the CIA right back to DeMarco's lab, where most of the surviving cast members bump each other off. Taking into account the obvious goofy editing (characters are seen standing around waiting for the shot to end) and abominable performances all around, director Ted V. Mikels (of the "Point-N-Shoot" school of filmmaking) would later achieve such cinematic heights as The Corpse Grinders and Blood Orgy of the She-Devils. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
The Astro-Zombies, aka Space Zombies aka The Space Vampires, is a 1969science fictionhorror film starring John Carradine, Wendell Corey (in his final film appearance), and Tura Satana. It was written, directed, and produced by Ted V. Mikels. The plot follows a disgruntled scientist who, having been fired by the space agency, decides to create superhuman monsters from the body parts of innocent murdervictims. The creatures eventually escape and go on a killing spree, attracting the attention of both an international spy ring and the CIA.
The low budget movie has gained cult status along with many of Ted V. Mikels other works, inspiring him to write and direct a sequel. Mark of the Astro-Zombies was released direct-to-video in 2002 with Tura Satana reprising her role of Satana from the original film.
During a showing of the film on KTVU's Creature Features, it was noted that much of the film was shot on property owned by actor Wayne Rogers.
American horror punk band The Misfits recorded a song entitled "Astro Zombies", which was written by then-vocalist Glenn Danzig and released on their first full-length album, 1982's "Walk Among Us".
