Saturday 13 May 2017

Robot Monster

Robot Monster
1953, USA
dir. Phil Tucker
cast: George Nader, Gregory Moffett, Claudia Barrett

An alien invader uses cosmic rays to wipe out the population of the Earth, leaving a handful of survivors, a scientist's family who received an experimental antibiotic which has made them immune to the deathray. The robot monster most deal with them in person. However, his genocidal plans go awry when he takes a fancy to the eldest daughter.

Often regarded as one of the worst films every made,  this is blatantly not the case. While the acting is wooden, it's no worse than many of the films of the time. It's so low budget, they couldn't afford a robot costume, so they cast a friend who owned a gorilla costume and stuck a diving helmet on it and his equipment includes a bubble machine. The plot's nonsense obviously, but it's shoddiness is more endearing than anything else. There's  stock footage of dinosaurs fighting cut in for no apparent reason, which would lift any film. So, all in, unless you're the type of smug roaster who prefers The Shawshank Redemption to Penitentiary 3, you'll find something to enjoy in this film.

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