Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) – Review

Considered by many to be “The worst film ever made” Ed Wood’s B-movie classic wouldn’t even crack the top ten if you took into account the thousands of crap films that have come out over the intervening years – looking at you Tommy Wiseau – but what is it that made this particular “bad film” both memorable and beloved?

“Can your heart stand the shocking facts about … grave robbers from outer space?” That opening question by renowned psychic Criswell set the tone for Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outer Space and it kicked off one of the greatest bad movies of all time. The story begins with a series of mysterious events, including the sightings of flying saucers and strange occurrences at a cemetery where an old man (Bela Lugosi) has recently buried his wife. As the chaos unfolds, we are introduced to a group of characters, including airline pilot Jeff Trent (Gregory Walcott) and his wife Paula (Mona McKinnon), as well as police inspector Daniel Clay (Tor Johnson). Unfortunately, Inspector Clay is killed by the old man’s newly buried wife (Vampira) and is soon he too become a walking corpse on a mission for an unknown master.

“Can the dead form a union?”

But what exactly is “Plan 9” and who is behind it? Well, it seems an alien by the name of Eros (Dudley Manlove) and his partner Tanna (Joanna Lee) have had little trouble contacting the Earth’s governments and Eros recommends “Plan 9”, the resurrection of recently deceased humans. Which seems like the logical next step if someone refuses to pick up the phone. We later learn from General Roberts (Lyle Talbot) that aliens are trying to prevent humanity from destroying the universe, which seems like a noble goal but I’m not sure how raising the dead fits into that. In an infamous confrontation between him and Trent, he goes off on a rant exclaiming “You see! You see! Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!”

And that’s when the talks broke down.

Despite Eros’s statement of peace “We do not want to conquer your planet. Only, save it. We could have destroyed it long ago if that had been our aim. Our principal purpose is friendly” he is not afraid of breaking a few eggs to make an omelette, and because his belief that humans are immature and stupid he intends to destroy humanity. Call me crazy, but I’m getting a lot of mixed messages from this script. Needless to say, our hero jumps in to save the day – a classic fistfight in a spaceship ensues – and the saucer’s equipment is damaged and catches fire while trying to take off. The saucer is consumed in flames and explodes and the two remaining zombies decompose into skeletons. Proving once again that if you want anything done right don’t employ zombies.

I guess you get what you pay for.

Stray Observations:

• The “Flying Saucer” that plagued the skies of Los Angeles were not actually paper plates or hubcaps, as many assumed, but plastic model kits they had picked up at a local department store. What a missed opportunity Ed Wood made when it came to merchandising.
• The government dealing with people’s belief in flying saucers spurred the release of Ray Harryhausen’s Earth vs The Flying Saucers. I film with a slightly bigger budget than what Ed Wood was working with.
• Jeff describes the disc-shaped flying saucers as “cigar-shaped” making him not the most reliable witness as even Freud would have a hard time describing them as phallic-shaped.
• Ed Wood wasn’t above bringing out classic movie tropes, such as a person seeing something incredible and then putting aside their bottle of booze. The only thing missing was the line “Not another drop.”
• Vampira insisted that her character be mute as she didn’t care for the dialogue. Which one must admit is an interesting choice and one I kind of admire.
• The film contains a cautionary message from the aliens which is an idea that had been utilized in the classic science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still.
• Eros seems very frustrated that the Earth people refuse to acknowledge their existence, yet he goes to extreme lengths to remain secret, such as killing witnesses.

Close Encounter of the Irritated Kind.

Though widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made, Plan 9 from Outer Space paradoxically manages to captivate audiences with its unintentional charm and quirky storytelling. This film answers the invaluable question “What happens if you have a lot of love and passion for a project but absolutely no talent or the ability to pull it off?” Ed Wood’s direction is notorious, not only for its low-budget production but its often amateurish execution. From the visibly fake UFOs on strings to the cardboard tombstones wobbling in the breeze, the film’s technical flaws are plentiful. However, these shortcomings only contribute to the film’s charm, adding to the overall campiness that has endeared it to generations of fans.

You have to admire these “Special Effects.”

One of the highlights of Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outer Space is its ensemble cast, featuring the likes of Bela Lugosi, Vampira, and Tor Johnson, whose performances in “Plan 9” are legendary for their wooden delivery and lack of emotional depth. It is the cast’s earnest commitment to their roles, despite the absurdity of the script, that enhances the film’s bizarre tone. Lugosi’s presence is particularly noteworthy, as he tragically passed away during filming and was replaced by a stand-in – who covers his face with a cape, in a rather unconvincing way –  and the resulting continuity errors only add to the film’s unintentional comedy.

“Who needs a chiropractor?”

Ed Wood’s direction is eccentric, to say the least, with a penchant for long awkward pauses and strange dialogue choices, and while it may not be a masterpiece in traditional terms, Plan 9 from Outer Space is a masterclass in how not to make a movie.  It is the combination of all these disparate elements that makes this an enjoyable experience for fans of cult cinema. Now, despite its reputation as a cinematic disaster there is no denying its entertainment factor. Its earnestness, combined with its unintentional humour and campy aesthetic, makes it a must-watch for fans of genre outings of a decidedly goofy nature.

What’s not to love about this film?

While it may not be a masterpiece in the traditional sense, it’s certainly a masterpiece of its own unique kind and Ed Wood remains one of the most celebrated bad movie directors of all time. So, grab some popcorn, suspend your disbelief and prepare to be transported to a world where aliens, zombies and pie-plate flying saucers reign supreme.