The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (2002/2004)
Just about anyone can relate to
"The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra" because just about
everyone has seen horrible B-movie sci-fi films on
television. Granted, the more of these films you've
seen, the more you will get this one. A knowledge
of films like "Plan 9 from Outer Space," "Robot Monster,"
"From Hell It Came" and "The Mesa of Lost Women" is
helpful but not entirely necessary. This spoof of
such films isn't rooted in knowing specific scenes
from specific movies but rather from having a general
knowledge of the genre.
And granted, spoofing such films
isn't a particularly fresh idea. Even an Austin filmmaker
took a crack at it. Kelly Greene put together a hilarious
spoof of the genre with "Attack of the Bat Monster"
a few years ago. (A funny film that sadly never got
off the ground with a distribution deal). But Larry
Blamire, the writer, director and star of "The Lost
Skeleton of Cadavra" has a wonderful sense of the
genre and pokes gentle fun at it throughout the film.
It would seem such a spoof might wear thin after 20
minutes or so, but Blamire somehow keeps the film
fresh and the humor right on the money. Rarely is
the film slow or dull and rarely does the viewer find
himself not giggling with delight.
"The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra" works
better than many other spoofs because it sticks to
its guns and doesn't offer us anything but a fake
50's B-movie. There are no modern references in the
film, no winking nods to the camera that the filmmakers
and actors are in on the joke, and no extraneous ideas
floating around (as in "Bat Monster" which was about
the making of a B-movie as well as a spoof of such
films). Blamire simply pens, casts and films the movie
as if it were really a lost relic of Hollywood's age
of Golden Turkeys. The idea works and the results
are as funny as some of those old films. Funnier!
There's just lots to like here:
Scientists in search of meteors, virginal brides,
crazy explorers, space aliens, animals transformed
into human women, a mutant monster (in a silly foam
rubber costume that rivals one of my favorite short
films, "Mountain of Terror Day of Dread" by Jay Edwards,
which itself seems to be an homage to "The Creeping
Terror), and, of course, the titular skeleton. I won't
ruin the surprises for you by telling you about the
wonderful visual and verbal jokes in this film. For
fans of B-movies, many of them are subtle and priceless.
(Okay, here's a hint on one: Notice the inside of
the skeleton's rib cage).
Films like "The Lost Skeleton of
Cadavra" will continue to pop up every few years because
the genre at which it pokes fun, old 50's sci-fi B-movies,
is filled with such beloved films. One could go on
writing about the genre for ages (and numerous books,
magazine articles, and on-line articles do just that).
Wondrous is the delight in finding these films. It's
easy to believe their magical appeal will never be
lost. This film reminds us once again of just how
much fun discovering those old silly films can be.
It's as if they were made just for us.
Note:
With Fay Masterson, Brian Howe,
Andrew Parks and, the real find here, Jennifer Blaire.
Shot at Bronson Canyon in Griffith
Park (where "Robot Monster" and over 150 other movies
have been shot) and Lake Arrowhead, both near L.A.
Filming lasted just two weeks.
Blamire has completed a new film
about a lounge singer called "Johnny Slade's Greatest
Hits" which is also scheduled to be released this
year. (http://johnnysladesgreatesthits.com)
Although completed and screened
in 2002, the film was not officially released until
2004.
Viewed at a sneak at the Dobie in
February 2004.
