Planet Of The Vampires (1965)

Updated: Aug 3, 2021

The Breakdown: A group of Astronauts crash land on a planet and find themselves at the mercy of its strange inhabitants.

Watch If: You Like Cheesy 60's movies,

Not If: You don't like Sci-Fi or need CGI in your special effects.

SECONDARY FACTS

Overall Rating: 2.8

Length: 1:28

Country: Italy/Spain/USA

Language: English

Scare Factor: Low

Gore Factor: Low

Noteworthy Aspects: The practical effects are fascinating.

REVIEW

THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Planet of the Vampires isn't the most exciting thing you'll ever see, nor does it have anything to do with vampires, but it's an excellent example of early Sci-Fi Horror, and the practical effects are stunning.

PREMISE: 3

Astronauts face a strange alien threat. Nothing wrong with that, and more over, parts of the execution manage to hint at the haunting and concern based fear that the original film hoped to encompass. The story line itself, however, without the attention grabbers of modern writing, leave the film a bit lacking overall. I would love to see more high octane rendition, perhaps more of an elaboration on the original premise.

ACTING: 3

The acting isn't bad, per-say, but it is positively drenched in that heavy, dramatic saturation that was so prominent in the 60s. Personally, I find the combination of overacting and under-articulation ends up giving the characters an aura of unrelatability that detracts from the film as a whole.

VISUALS: 4

Planet of the Vampires is a gorgeous film. The ingenuity behind the repurposed pvc piping, and the Styrofoam tentacles reused to make the alien landscape creates a bizarre and captivating aesthetic that manages to properly transport the viewer despite, perhaps because of, the lack of more modern technologies. The costumes are also bad-ass. I mean, I would definitely wear this if I could get away with it:

ATMOSPHERE: 2

By modern standards, Planet of the Vampires is slow and, at times, even boring. Whether this is because modern media has spoiled me, or simply because of the bizarrely repetitive pacing issues that drag out the entire film with no real resolution or crescendo, I don't know. All I know is that it would make an excellent background film for your next Sci-Fi party.

DELIVERY: 2

All in all, while I definitely think this film is a must see for any classic sci-fi fanatic, it's not going to change any lives. With the exception of the wildly creative backdrop and stunning practical effects, its overall a bit lackluster. However, its enjoyment factor does peak if you view the rest of the film as the vehicle for the sets and props to be displayed in context.