Search - The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra on DVD

Very fun spoof of '50s schlock films

audrey | white mtns | 07/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Larry Blamire wrote, directed and stars in this spoof of 1950s b&w science fiction movies that entertained audiences on Saturday afternoons. The movie is not perfect, but if you remember with affection films like Plan 9 from Outer Space and Attack of the Crab Monsters, you will laugh out loud many times. Written in 5 days and filmed in 10-1/2, from props to costumes the film captures the look of old sci-fi standards, and is even filmed in Bronson Canyon, the location of many a schlock feature, and uses vintage film music to excellent effect. While the plot, involving a good scientist and an evil scientist (both of whom travel with their microscopes), aliens and their escaped mutant and the evil lost skeleton (bought on eBay for $100), is very good, the script could have used one more rewrite, and the pacing in the middle third is way too slow. I'm giving it five stars despite those problems because I still laughed over and over, and the DVD features were great.DVD extras include: a Q&A session at the film's 2002 premiere; trailer; a commentary track with Blamire and crew; a cast commentary; bloopers; cartoon; an 11-minute making-of featurette.If you enjoy old sci-fi classics in spite of, or because of, the visible wires holding the creature costumes together, you should check out this funny and affectionate spoof."

Sci-Fi Spoof.

tvtv3 | Sorento, IL United States | 03/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA we are introduced to Dr. Paul Armstrong (Larry Blamire) and his lovely wife Betty (Fay Masterson) as they are going away to spend a few days in a lovely cottage in the woods so that Paul can study his science. The opening scene finds them asking for directions from a mysterious farmer (Robert Deveau) who has a strange and foreboding prescence. Unbeknownst to the Armstrongs, an alien ship from the planet Marva has been forced to land in the same woods. In order to fix their ship, the alien couple has to acquire part of the same substance the Paul is studying and after landing the aliens discover that their pet mutant (who is capable of digesting people whole) has gotten loose. As a final twist to the plot, an evil scientist, Dr. Roger Fleming (Brian Howe) is in the same area looking for the same substance that Paul is studying so that he can resurrect the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra and become the most powerful lackey in the world. False identities are formed, massive animal killings take place, strange creatures are brought to life, inter-galatic friendships are formed, and all of it in the pursuit of science.

THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA is one of the most hilarious movies I have seen in a long time. It's perhaps the best parody movie to be made in the past decade. The film is a total spoof of the 1950s and early 1960s sci-fi creature features. All of the cliches of those films are paraodized to perfection; from the menacing farmer who seems to have a vision of things to come to the helpful law official (ranger) who is blinded about what is really going on to inexpensive props, mad scientists, bad dialogue, stereotypical gender roles, and a "scary" monster--THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA has it all. What's so remarkable about the movie is that it doesn't just make fun of the bad movies--it pokes fun at the entire sub-genre.

Larry Blamire not only acts in the movie as Dr. Armstrong, but he also wrote and directed the film as well. It's impressive that he not only wrote the dialogue, but was able to speak so much of it without once loosing character Of course that's due more to good editing and directing, but I have seen parody movies of this type before where some of the performers just couldn't stay in character. That doesn't happen at all in this movie. No matter how corny the dialogue is or how humorous a situation is in, the performers appear like the most devoted of method-actors, immersing themselves in their totally unrealistic roles.

There are some points in the movie that the plot moves too slowly. But these moments don't happen that often. Not everyone will like the picture and in fact many will be unable to appreciate the humor and find most of the movie plain dumb. However, overall, this is a great movie to watch if you've seen a lot of 1950s sci-fi mutant/creature type movies and have a good sense of humor."

I give this six stars....I sleep now!

Johny Bottom | Jacksonville, NC | 06/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Praise the cinema gods! The return of kooky 50's Sci-Fi, with cheezy not-so-special effects, dialogue that even Edward Wood Jr. couldn't come up with, and an inane storyline, makes The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra a must see. You've got it all here, a mad scientist bent on world domination. A male and female alien trying to pass themselves off as Earthlings, the hero who wants an unheard of element (atmospheium) to make the world better, and more goofiness than Plan 9 from Outer Space and The Brain from Planet Erous put together.Note the hot chick Animala. Though she was made from forest creatures, note her tight fitting costume and short haircut. Remind you of anything? No? Than my friend you have yet to see the 50's classic 'Cat Women on the Moon'. Watching her dance is one of the highlight of the film, as is her culinary skills at the dinner table.Of course no Sci-Fi picture would be complete without a man in a monster suit, and you have it here too. Though you can see the guys boots sticking out of the celery stalk body, you go along with it, knowing that that's how you are MEANT to see it. And last but not least, this movie introduces 'The Skeleton'. If the skeletons lines don't slay you into a laugh fest, check your pulse. Whether he's laying in the cave giving out orders or 'running' through the woods, you got to love him. His fight scene with the mutant monster can only be described as momentous.For those who are sick of multi-million dollar movies without personality or fun, than The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra is strongly recommended."

You don't know the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, but YOU WILL!!!

Siiri Cressey | 09/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Why, oh why isn't there a sixth star? Or a seventh? Or a tenth? Or ten-thousandth?
Bless the shoestring film-makers of this world; what they make can bring such joy to us mere mortals. Movies like The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra are so wonderfully kooky, one cannot help but smile at them. Watching it, I was reminded of being a little child. On Saturday afternoons, the local public television/UHF station would play cheap old monster movies. Though most of the ones they showed were Japanese, the spirit of these movies was the same as that which infuses their Anerican counterparts; the idea that with a camera or two, some starving actors, some fishing line, an inexpensive location, a little makeup and spirit gum, and a rubber suit, one could make a movie. Critics, take note; it is this attitude which spawned more "sophisticated" fare, like Clerks and Resovoir Dogs.
I would watch these Z-movies movies with my Dad, and we would fall over ourselves laughing, mocking the hammy acting on the screen. Interestingly, Lost Skeleton does not do this -- at least, not the way I did when I was four. Instead of winking at the camera and really overdoing it, the film-makers play it all entirely straight, which makes it that much funnier. This is the reason why I don't find a lot of parodies (particularly Scary Movie) funny; they make their subject matter look stupid. It is a far, far better (and more difficult) thing to pay humorous homage to a film genre by not poking fun at it, but instead laughing along with the genre's existing audience. Evil Dead II does it; George Lucas in Love does it; Not Another Teen Movie......does not do it............
And The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra definitely does do it."