Greetings, goblins and ghoulies! It’s October 1st, and that means that it’s time for another round of Horror And Sons’ Halloween Horrors series! For those just discovering the Halloween Horrors series, you can consider this a month-long celebration of not only the holiday of Halloween, but also a celebration of our mutual love of the horror genre. We all have those horror films that we obsessively and ritualistically watch every Halloween season, whether that be to get us in the spirit of the holiday or even as part of our yearly Halloween festivities. This series was created to help pay tribute to those films, as well as to Halloween itself. 

That’s enough about the “meaning” of this series. I’m sure there will be more of that as the series progresses. Instead, let’s get to the first of the many contributors who will participating in the series, as they are what truly makes the series successful, interesting, and fun!

As with most of the previous years (this is the series’ 7th year, after all), I always prefer to kick the series off with an entry from a contributor that is joining the Halloween Horrors series for the first time. This year is no different.

Please welcome The Red-Eyed Reviewer to the series! 

Located in a darkened attic somewhere, The Red-Eyed Reviewer seems to spend many a late-night watching horror films and streaming sites, listening to Halloween (and other spooky-themed) records of yesteryear, and indulging in retro video games, among other interests. Don’t feel too bad for this fiend though, for he has a black cat named “Frankenstein” to keep him company while up in that attic.

Ol’ Red-Eyed kicks off the 2023 series with a look at what is probably one of the more light-hearted films featured in this year’s line-up of cinematic “fright fests”: 1965’s Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster! While this film may feature something vastly different from the version of Frankenstein’s Monster that most of us learned of growing up, the film definitely still provides a dose of monster mashin’ fun, heavily intertwined with more than a few sci-fi elements… but don’t take my word for it when you can read The Red-Eyed Reviewer‘s take on the film.

Be sure to follow The Red-Eyed Reviewer on Facebook for more discussions and reviews on horror films, classic Halloween records, retro gaming, streaming sites/channels, and a few other things! Here’s the link: The Red-Eyed Reviewer’s FB Page

 

Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (1965) 
A Cosmic Collision of Camp and Comedy

Hold on to your space helmets because Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster is one hilariously chaotic collision of sci-fi absurdity. If you thought monster mashups couldn’t get any crazier, this flick from yesteryear will make you think again.

The plot kicks off with a group of aliens hailing from the war-torn planet Mars (yes, you read that correctly) led by the ruler Princess Marcuzan and her trusty sidekick, Dr. Nadir. Their interstellar paranoia leads them to mistakenly destroy several space probes, thinking they’re incoming missiles. Little do they know; these probes are manned by astronauts. And here’s where the fun begins.

Enter the not-so-great Frank Saunders, a human-looking android created by Dr. Adam Steele. Frank’s space capsule takes an unplanned detour, crash-landing in sunny Puerto Rico. Trouble follows him as the forces of Princess Marcuzan inflict severe damage on him, resulting in a murderous rampage that would give even the wildest Spring Break partygoer a run for their money.

Steele, along with his assistant and girlfriend, Karen Grant, hotfoot it to the island to rescue their creation. However, their arrival coincides with Princess Marcuzan and Dr. Nadir launching their master plan: kidnapping Earth’s women to boost the Martian population. Karen gets caught up in their scheme, and it’s up to Adam and the now-damaged Frank to embark on a wacky rescue mission.

First things first, let’s clarify that the name “Frankenstein” never graces the movie’s dialogue. Instead, we have “Frank,” who turns out to be a cyborg/android often referred to as a “Ro-butt” – and yes, you read that right too. This film takes us on a surreal tour of Frank’s inner workings, complete with vacuum tubes and transistors, when his scalp is removed during a rather modest press conference. As if that’s not enough, after his crash, you get to witness more artificial parts, including a full transistor radio (minus the faceplate) adorning the side of his head.

Now, here’s where things get even more gloriously bizarre. Princess Marcuzan bears a striking resemblance to Madeline Kahn, and her trusty companion, Dr. Nadir, could be Jon Lovitz’s long-lost relative crossed with the Weekly World News’ Batboy. These two never set foot off their spaceship, but boy, do they make their presence felt.

This movie subscribes to the classic “Horny Martian” storyline – you know, the one where Martians come to Earth in search of breeding stock and start kidnapping women. Cue the unnecessary dialogue pauses, copious amounts of stock footage, and makeup lines that become glaringly apparent along the bald caps of the Martians, and “Frank,” the android-cum-cyborg. As if that weren’t enough, the alien spaceship looks like something you’d find in a kiddie-sized Epcot dome playset. However, it’s not all bad news; there’s some genuinely great instrumental surf music, and if you’re into thrilling scooter riding action (your mileage may vary on that one), this movie has got you covered.

Here’s an interesting tidbit: the Martian guns are actually Wham-O air blaster guns previously used in the holiday classic, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. Oh, and that iconic sound effect from the Martian guns? It made a cameo in Edgar Winter’s song “Frankenstein.” Now that’s cross-genre synergy for you!

If you’re in the mood for a bellyful of laughs, a truckload of nostalgia, and a reminder of just how delightfully goofy 1960s sci-fi cinema could be, Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster is a must-watch. You can catch it on YouTube or look for it on private Roku channels like “Creature Feature Central.” And remember, when it comes to this movie, the more you expect the unexpected, the more you’ll enjoy the ride. So, grab some popcorn, settle into your favorite retro armchair, and prepare to be thoroughly entertained by the glorious madness that is Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster.