Some movies are works of art and some movies are best at being escapist fun. The rare film can find a balance of both and produce something somewhere in between that’s not only entertaining but an inspiring template for movies to follow.

Planet of the Vampires (1965)

Stop me if you have heard this one before: A spaceship’s crew gets a mysterious distress/warning signal, decides to investigate and all hell breaks out.

Well, while not certainly the first sci-fi horror, Planet of the Vampires hits a lot of plot beats that would become standard in future tales of horrific cosmic expeditions.

One of the best things going for this movie is being helmed by genre master Mario Bava a dude who knew a thing or two about special effects and colorful compositions. Just look at some of the beautiful shots that come from this fun, weird flick.

 

 

Hmm these costumes look familiar for some reason

 

Space horror to sink one’s teeth into

Not just important for its place in time regarding horror and sci-fi, but should be noted this movie is still a treat to watch today. The design of the astronaut costumes and the scenery all feel like something out of a comic book of that era.

Anyways, don’t have a lot to say about this one other than geeking out about a fun movie that has colorful visuals, space vampires/zombies, and a decent plot.

Feel free to share any Bava favorites below! Some prefer him to Argento, personally, I’m just glad there’s such a treasure trove of awesome international horror cinema out there!