A True Sci-Fi Oddball

ferbs54

What fan of Grade Z sci-fi shlock could possibly resist a film called "Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster" (1965)...especially after learning of its alternate title, "Mars Invades Puerto Rico"? Well, I guess it's true that you can't judge a film by its title, because I was actually fairly impressed with how interesting this little cheapie turned out to be. In it, America's first humanoid robotic astronaut, Col. Frank Saunders (and the "Frank" in his name is the closest we ever get to the Frankenstein legend!), is shot down by Martians whilst en route to that very planet. Frank jettisons his capsule and parachutes down to Puerto Rico, where the invading Martians manage to blast half his face away, zapping his circuits and turning him into a mangled, shambling, homicidal beachcomber. Good thing his creator, James Karen (most famous, perhaps, for those annoying Pathmark commercials), is able to do some touch-up work on him, so he can battle the Martians (who are busy stealing our bikini-clad women for their breeding purposes) and their mutant creature, Mull. It must be said that these Mars types--led by their regal-looking Princess Marcuzan and a dorky guy named Dr. Nadir (!), who looks like a cross between Uncle Fester and Dr. Sevrin, the leader of "Star Trek"'s space hippies--are a lot less discreet than those in 1966's "Mars Needs Women," blasting up teenage pool parties and just hauling their hotties away! Shlocky as the whole thing is, this film also features some very nice B&W photography, nicely captured on this Dark Sky DVD in a stunning-looking print; cool rock 'n' roll music by The Distant Cousins and The Poets (non sequitur though it ususally is!); some artful FX; and a compact storyline. I can't imagine anyone not being entertained or at least flabbergasted on some level by this truly mind-boggling film. You won't soon forget this one, I promise you! The folks at Dark Sky are to be thanked for a very nice package of a true sci-fi oddball.

score 6/10

ferbs54 25 October 2007

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1752625/