Morally Sound's Horror Film of the Week: Bloodsuckers from Outer Space (1984)

[Ash28M]

Already Picked..

Ash28m - Sheitan (2006)
boycrieswolf - Mark of the Devil (1970)
BroodingHope - Hour of the Wolf (1968)
Darga - Messiah of Evil (1973)
DrHerbertWest - Contamination (1980)
HAEMORRHAGE - The Final Terror (1983)
Livingdead102 - The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1939)
maybrick - The Horror of Party Beach (1964)
x666x - The Ghoul (1933)
Morally Sound - Bloodsuckers from Outer Space (1984)
Next up...


X-human - Monday May 26th
zompirejoe
thrashard76
Enutz666
Spitfire
DeathDealer
Matt89
Kippoe
dcrw6
Midnight Buddha

Any participant who hasn't made their pick within 24 hours of it being your turn (unless you let us know before hand) will forfeit their turn and we will go on to the next person on the list.

[MorallySound]

"You cut my fuckin' arm off!"

I love this movie. It's such a cheesy, fun, and inventive low-budget horror film. And finally, it is available on DVD (directly from the director no less)! It can be purchased at http://bloodsuckersfromouterspace.com/ for only $20. I have fond memories of renting this on VHS as a kid; I solely rented it for the cover art alone and was not disappointed. It's one of those films thats so bad it's good, but the thing that sets Bloodsuckers aside from all the other so-bad-they're-good films is that Bloodsuckers has a lot of heart. So if low-budget people-turned-into-zombies-in-small-town-Texas sounds fun and amusing, go out and buy a DVD and watch it with a big bowl of popcorn and some soda or beer or whiskey! And heck, Glen Coburn will even sign your DVD!

[x666x]

Looks fun. I'll probably get around to ordering it today. Only I think most wont get to see it by next week depending on how fast he will mail it out. I tend to like this stuff. Judging by the clip on his site, the quality reminds me of Microwave Oven Massacre where it is cheaply done, but still really fun.

[Spit]

Great pick! I love this movie, I'll plug my old tape in later today.

Anyone know who does the theme song?

[Devo1313]

The couple that did the theme song are on the Bloodsuckers Reunion doc.

[X-human]

Fun little movie, but I disagree that it's "so bad it's good" because there was never a time I was laughing at it, just with it. Overall it's pretty well made; somewhat flat lighting and slightly overexposed but that's better than shot on video and the sound is very good. Unfortunately the transfer looks to be compressed to hell.

It's kinda sluggish though, it's more like a movie about teens trying to cruise during a zombie invasion than actually about a zombie invasion. The action scenes are pretty brief too and the comedy's spaced out. Good solid stuff none the less.

[X-human]

I just want to clarify that this is all in good fun and that I'm not trying to elevate this to great art but the story structure itself really impressed me after I thought about it for awhile:

Warning: Psychological Analysis Ahead

The lead character Jeff is faced with a decision, be an artist like he wants to be or be a farmer like his Uncle (father figure) wants him to be. This is symbolized by his old white car, which when it gets a flat tire he proceeds to destroy with a tire iron because he doesn't have a spare. [I loved the jack, great gag]

After this a new slick black car drives by, then turns around. Jeff is ashamed, hiding his outburst from his perceived (hick) peer. The window rolls down, metal music blares out and a beautiful young women sits inside: Julie. In the car he also takes nitrous oxide, which based on his cough suggests it's probably his first. He takes her to his home in his grandmother's house, which his uncle threatens to take away if he doesn't become a farmer. Jeff gets some understanding and quick sex with Julie while in the process destroys his grandmother's house. Julie reveals that she left her home in Dallas; she's a trailblazer for him showing the way to independence.

Jeff's rejecting his old life in his white car and white house, for Julie with her black car and red clothing. Red is a strong symbolic color of rebellion, in fact the color itself is banned in some religious circles. Jeff has a green coat but a red shirt underneath. These colors are opposites on the spectrum, meaning that he wears the green hick coat to blend in but inside he's the opposite red t-shirt wearing rebel.

The plot itself of course reflects Jeff's inner turmoil. His parents are the first zombies he meets and must defeat, who call him to become like them. Everyone in his hick home town is calling him to be a zombie (like them) and to kill (leave) Julie. There's a plan, and he's a part of it. It's interesting to note that Julie's accepted by the community as a way to gain quick satisfaction, but not a long term relationship. (All women are whores) This is contrasted with Jeff and Julie's love making which we as an audience are aware of while never truly seeing. Even with the dirty jokes it remains pure to the audience, while we see in graphic detail the lovemaking of Jeff's friends which is shown to be ugly. This visualization shows true love for Jeff and Julie.

Jeff is able to escape becoming a zombie by what Julie brings him (nitrous oxide). They say he'll become because he can't stop breathing, but he shows that he is capable of doing more than what's expect of him through her. She is his muse, his serendipity. He's able to reject the status quo and gain strength from her in order to combat his peers (the farmers).

It's interesting to note the plot similarities between this and Messiah of Evil. Both are small rural towns where citizens become infected as zombies directly through an outside mysterious force (not direct contamination). Outsiders versus insiders and women as sex objects are themes. There is also a conflict of art/artist versus status quo. There are also child/father issues present, symbolized by the parent becoming a zombie and attacking their child. I think Bloodsuckers integrated these elements much better than Messiah.

Overall the only other zombie movie I can think of that ties its themes as well into the actual plot as Bloodsuckers does is Dellamorte Dellamore, but I'd say Bloodsuckers more consistently carried through with visual symbolism. Like Messiah there are common themes as well between all three. Not even Night of the Living Dead can really compare.

I'd like to think this is all accidental, that the direct just did "what feels right." When people over think these things it doesn't seem as true. This rings true, I think it's because they tapped into something subconscious.

[Spitfire]

Has the new pick for this week been made?

[X-human]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Has the new pick for this week been made?

Yes, Spider Baby. I think at the very least we need to start putting dates in the topic, if not a possible sticky for the week.