My Summer Lair Chapter #319:Who Will Defeat Vampire Zombies…From Space!?
What you’re about to hear is a passionate conversation between two fans of B-movies and magic.
Some of the movies Michael Stasko and I discuss include Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957), Invaders from Mars (1953), They Live (1988), Night of the Living Dead (1968), old school Halloween (1978)…that’s why magic comes up often because these movies are…truly…magic. They’re endearing.
With their humble stories these dynamic movies offer a stark simplicity that weirdly creates a compelling engagement. You eagerly come back to these movies. You happily reference these movies.
And while these classic movies are not Citizen Kane polished, especially Ed Wood’s Plan 9 the goofiness is merely salt and pepper and makes the whole thing taste even better.
Weird…weird is a pop culture hot sauce. The more weirdness you add the more pleasing your final product is…be it an album or a novel or movie.
Meet Michael Stasko the director, co-writer (along with Jakob Skrzypa and Alex Forman) and co-producer behind Vampire Zombies…From Space!
The movie description reads: “If you put Mel Brooks, Ed Wood, and South Park into a blender you’d get Vampire Zombies…From Space! an over-the-top comedy which satirizes and pays homage to drive-in, creature-feature horror films of the 1950’s.”
Yes! For this movie you can see the string that holds up the UFO on purpose. And bonus fun? It’s the same string that holds up bats as well. These guys made a hilarious B-movie…on purpose.
The description continues: “From the depths of space, Dracula has devised his most dastardly plan yet; turning the residents of the small town of Marlow into his personal army of vampire zombies! A motley crew consisting of a grizzled detective, a skeptical rookie cop, a chain-smoking greaser, and a determined young woman band together to save the world from Vampire Zombies…From Space!”
If you dig Mel Brooks and classic horror movies and B-movies and magic and you enjoy laughing this movie is totally your jam.
This MSL conversation with Michael Stasko was so fun…it’s why I have this podcast. When was the last time somebody brought up Windsor, Ontario while talking about Orson Welles and Tim Burton?
We even acknowledge Val Kilmer…I’d say more about that reference but that’s…Top Secret.
Notable Vampire Zombies…From Space! cast includes: Craig Gloster plays Dracula (his Dracula is amazing!!), Lloyd Kaufman (the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio) and Judith O’Dea (who played Barbara in 1968 as in “they’re coming to get you, Barbra!” yeah that Barbara).
Movies like Naked Gun and Spaceballs still crack me up. And I can respect the cinematic masterpiece that is Citizen Kane. That remarkable ability to freely go high and low…sometimes even lowest common dominator low in pop culture is a super power. It opens up unique doors and puts you in strange places where everybody is wonderfully weird.
That’s how you score Vampire Zombies…From Space!
Vampire Zombies…From Space! is making the festival rounds; I caught it as part of the 2025 Canadian Film Fest. If it’s playing at a festival near you it’s so #PantsWorthy.
Vampire Zombies…From Space! @ W • T • F
Host Sammy Younan
Recorded: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 12:30 pm (EST)
Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some fun…talking about zombies!
