Part of Invasion!
Residents of California’s San Fernando Valley are under attack by flying saucers from outer space. The aliens, led by Eros (Dudley Manlove) and his assistant, Tanna (Joanna Lee), intend to conquer the planet by resurrecting corpses in a Hollywood cemetery. The living dead — a cape-wearing ghoul (Bela Lugosi), a vampire (Vampira), and a slow-footed cop (Tor Johnson) who was killed for his nosiness — stalk curious humans who wander into the cemetery looking for evidence of the UFOs.
Long regarded as one of the worst films ever made, PLAN 9 got the Hollywood treatment in director Tim Burton’s loving homage to its creator in ED WOOD — and has amassed a following of devoted fans who appreciate the creativity, earnestness and outlandishness of the oft-maligned film. In deference to the Burton connection, we’re closing out our series by screening this 16mm print alongside his incredibly fun MARS ATTACKS! Criswell predicts you’re gonna love it!
“I genuinely love this film and, with complete conviction, believe everyone should see this. It is so bad that it's flawless.” —Josiah Teal, Film Threat “J. Hoberman of the Village Voice has made a case for Wood as an unconscious avant-gardist; there’s no denying that his blunders are unusually creative and oddly expressive.” —Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
