Watching Ed Wood’s infamous Plan 9 From Outer Space is something of an October tradition here at the Shattered Lens! And you know how much I love tradition!
Incidentally, I know this film has a reputation for being the worst film ever made. Personally, I don’t think that it deserves that reputation. Is it bad? By traditional standards of quality, I guess it can be argued that Plan 9 From Outer Space is a bad movie. But it’s also a lot of fun and how can you not smile when you hear Criswell’s opening and closing statements?
Watching Plan 9 From Outer Space is a bit of a Halloween tradition around the Shattered Lens Bunker and, if you know anything about me, you know that I’m all about tradition!
First released back in 1959 and directed by the infamous Ed Wood, Plan 9 From Outer Space is often described as being one of the worst films ever made. Well, every year, I take it upon myself to defend Plan 9 From Outer Space by pointing out that 1) as opposed to a truly terrible film like Man Of Steel, Plan 9 From Outer Space was made with next to no money, 2) Gregory Walcott does a fairly good job in the lead role, and 3) the film, at the very least, does seem to be sincere in its attempt to promote world peace. Add to that, the film is way too much fun to watch for it to be truly the worst film ever made.
So, seriously, can we at least give Ed Wood the amount of respect that we usually give to Tommy Wiseau?
Enjoy Plan 9 From Outer Space! And remember — can you prove it didn’t happen?
We have a few traditions here at the Shattered Lens. Every Christmas, we feature Treevenge. Every Halloween, we invite everyone to watch Night of the Living Dead. And every October, we offer up Ed Wood’s classic plea for world peace, Plan 9 From Outer Space.
I guess it’s debatable whether or not Plan 9 From Outer Space can actually be called a horror film. For one thing, it’s scary like not at all. If you actually pay attention to the film, it’s obvious that director Ed Wood was actually trying to deliver a heartfelt plea for world peace (as well as finding use for a minute of footage featuring the late Bela Lugosi). Of course, a lot of others claim that all Wood did was create the worst film ever made.
Now, at the risk of being branded a heretic, Plan 9 From Outer Space is hardly the worst film ever made. First off, lead actor Gregory Walcott actually gives a pretty good performance as Jeff, the confused pilot who is accused of having a “stupid, stupid mind.” And secondly … well, that’s really the only traditional praise that I can give the film. Still, Plan 9 From Outer Space is way too much fun to be truly bad. Yes, you may sit there and wonder, “How was this movie made?” but the fact of the matter is this: it was made and we’re all better off for it. No, Plan 9 From Outer Space is not your standard “horror” film despite the presence of zombies and grave robbers from outer space. However, in its own silly “Look we made a movie!” sort of way, it’s the perfect film for Halloween.
And luckily, it’s also in the public domain! So, allow me to present you with the one and only Plan 9 From Outer Space!
Now, I’ve recently heard some talk about a Plan 9 From Outer Space remake. What would that look like? Well, here’s one possibility…
Watching Ed Wood’s infamous Plan 9 From Outer Space is something of an October tradition here at the Shattered Lens! And you know how much I love tradition!
Through the Shattered Lens 