Planet of the Vampires

Terrore Nello Spazio aka Planet of the Vampires aka Terror in Space, et al. (1965) Dir. Mario Bava.

Planet is a great example of the ways that genreic conventions can be used to create a memorable and ultimately engaging film. Centering on two space crews who end up stranded on a strange planet, the film plays like a gushing fan letter to science fiction’s silver age. And yet, compared to much of the similar fare that was being peddled from Hollywood, Bava’s amazingly beautiful cinematography, memorable set designs, and masterful use of slow motion and color, place this film head and shoulders above a number of its contemporaries.

Basically, I have always held this film’s sets and costumes up as the reason why the real ‘future’ can never be as beautiful as the future that the ’60s imagined for us. Black leather jump suits with high standing collars, black leather skull caps. Banks of lights under hemispherical view screens.

The film is very distinct in its melding of atmospheric fright effects, fog and slow-motion footage of the dead spacemen rising from hastily dug graves, along with a derivative, but well conceived science fiction text.

Bava is a master, no doubt about it. No matter what the subject matter and no matter how low the budget he always finds a way to be innovative and entertaining.