Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)

 

Plan 9 from Outer Space. Plan 9... from Outer Space... What can I say about this movie? Well, more likely, what can I say that hasn't already been said? Released in 1957, Plan 9 is a fantastically bad movie that single handedly kickstarted the scale of how bad a movie can be. From the writing to the directing to the special effects. This movie is considered the worst movie ever made. But is it really? I mean, on a technical level yes it is. It is incredibly bad. But is it as bad as people say? Let's look into it.

The plot is paper thin. As all schlocky sci-fi is. Introduced by The Amazing Criswell who spouts nonsense about future events happening in the future. The movie is about aliens Eros and Tanna (Dudley Manlove and Joanna Lee) who want to take over the earth so they use a mysterious "Plan 9" that involves using electro waves to revive and control the dead. These aliens constantly coming to Earth catches the attention of the government and airline pilot Jeff Trent (Gregory Walcott). At the same time, the dead rising from the grave catches the attention of the police, and especially Inspector Clay (Tor Johnson) who joins the dead. The dead include that of Vampire Girl (Vampira), The Ghoul Man (Bela Lugosi) and Inspector Clay himself. When the aliens land in the graveyard for the 50th time, Jeff and military company go to stop the aliens. The movie ultimately ends with the dead dying again, and the aliens exploding. It is a very simple plot, but at the same time, it's also incredibly complex.

Directed and written by the maestro of schlock Edward D. Wood Jr. The movie was made on a very small shoestring budget of $60,000. And he secured that by tricking a Church into financing it. The writing is the hokiest, out of this world nonsense you could imagine. A police officer who constantly points his gun at everything like he's Chief Wiggum. The random inserts of Bela Lugosi, which was just stock footage from an unfinished movie called The Ghoul Goes West. Lugosi had passed away during the production of the movie and to make up for one of the main actors not being there anymore Wood hired his chiropractor to stand in for the late Lugosi. Ending in the obvious shots of a very much not Bela Lugosi (Tom Mason) with a cape over his face. The random appearance of TV horror host Vampira. And the legendary facial expressions of Tor Johnson. Combine all that with sets constructed out of cheap materials on obvious soundstages. The space ship being a literal car's hubcap on a fishing wire. Cheap sets, cheap special effects. Writing that makes the writing in Debbie Does Dallas seem Oscar worthy. But there's something that rises about it all. Ed Wood was passionate. He didn't care if he didn't have a budget, he'd make a movie anyway. He loved movies and loved making them. It didn't matter what stood in his way or what limitations he had. That is passion you rarely see in filmmakers. He truly loved movies. His other accomplishments include that of Bride of the Monster (1955), Glen or Glenda (1953), Night of the Ghouls (1958), and a number of adult films just to make ends meet. Ed Wood didn't make it rich, but I feel he would smile if he knew people still enjoy his movies to this day.

The movie has since gone down as the worst movie ever made. But its not without its remakes. Yes, Plan 9 got a remake. And it sucks. Plan 9 (2015) made an attempt to make Plan 9 from Outer Space but better. Its tagline is even "The movie Ed Wood wishes he could've made." It's one of those "bad on purpose" movies. And that's why its bad. It tries so hard to keep the spirit of Plan 9's awfulness while winking and nudging and going "Eh? See? We're bad but we have a bigger budget." And that's where it fails. It's like remaking The Room (2003) into a serious drama. The movie falls flat if you take out what made it so bad. It's good in the first place. The Room isn't The Room without Tommy Wiseau's alien acting and gigantic ego. And Plan 9 isn't Plan 9 without the direction of Ed Wood. If you want more information on this movie and on Ed Wood's life look up the documentary Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion (1992).

All in all, I love this movie. It is unbearably bad, but it's earnest in every aspect of its production. You can see all the effort on screen. For good and for bad. I give this movie 1 skull out of 5. Steve says Future events like these will happen in the future.

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