MARIO BAVA'S PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES - ZOMBIES IN SPACE!! (1965)

PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1965) d. Mario Bava (Italy/Spain)

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A forgotten classic that blends the cosmic terror of space exploration with the eerie atmosphere of a Gothic haunted house, Mario Bava’s groundbreaking 1965 sci-fi/horror effort Planet of the Vampires presents a visually striking and deeply unsettling narrative whose influence reverberates throughout the genre, notably 1979’s smash Alien.

Set on a desolate alien planet, Planet of the Vampires (aka Terrore nello spazio) follows a crew of astronauts as they struggle to survive after responding to a mysterious distress signal. As they explore the barren landscape, a supernatural, otherworldly force begins to take control of their minds and bodies.

Using limited resources to create a grand sense of scale, Bava generates a relentless atmosphere of dread, isolation, and paranoia via his signature moody lighting amidst Giorgio Giovannini’s breathtakingly eerie set designs. Add in the enthusiastic performances from Barry Sullivan, Norma Bengall, Ivan Rassimov, and Evi Marandi, all draped in Gabriele Mayer’s stunning sleek leather costumes, the result is a sci-fi/horror flick like no other!

Join AC and his brilliant panel of sci-fi enthusiasts (Darren Callahan, Craig J. Clark, Troy Howarth, Stan Hyde, Alan Tromp) as they discuss this neglected masterpiece and its place in Bava’s wider filmography. Don’t forget your meteor deflectors!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdpxz303NvM

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