A Bad Movie Done Right
Lost Skeleton is a Gem Waiting to be Found

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If you like classic science fiction movies from the 1950s, you've probably seen your share of bad ones. Where the bad movies of yesteryear left off, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra has picked up the torch and carried B-movies into the new millennium. This time, however, the laughs are intentional.

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
Dr. Roger Fleming (Brian Howe) and Animala (Jennifer Blaire) conspire with The Skeleton in The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. (Tristar, 2004)
Directed by: Larry Blamire
Written by: Larry Blamire
Starring: Larry Blamire, Fay Masterson, Andrew Parks, Susan McConnell, and Brian Howe

Rated PG (for brief mild language)
Running time: 90 min.

FilmGuru's Rating : 9 out of 10.

Not everyone will get the humor in The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. On the surface, it seems like it would be pretty dull. What makes it funny is some sharp writing (that is intentionally bad). The script, written in five days, has every science fiction cliché. The result is one of the worst movies that I have ever loved.

Starring in the film (as well as being writer and director) is Larry Blamire as Dr. Paul Armstrong. Paul, along with his wife Betty (Faye Masterson), are searching for a meteor that he hopes will prove the existence of a rare element called atmosphereum. Meanwhile, an evil scientist named Dr. Roger Fleming (Brian Howe) is trying to find the Skeleton of Cadavra so he can take over the world. Then there are the two aliens named Kro-Bar (Andrew Parks) and Lattis (Susan McConnell) who have crashed their rocketship on Earth and now must find their escaped mutant before it kills anyone. Yes, it seems pretty strange, but all plot lines eventually converge in a weird, wonderful, and utterly stupid way.

Most importantly, the actors are completely terrible. At a Q&A after one screening, Dan Conroy (who plays Ranger Brad) told the audience that Larry had told him to act like a forest ranger that they had asked to be in the picture only because he had the prerequisite uniform. Dan said, "But won't I seem horrible?" To which Larry replied, "Exactly!" Co-star Parks had another way of acting terrible. He said that he imagined being an actor who saw this film as the pinnacle of his career. He decided to throw everything he had into the role, because it would be his one chance on the silver screen. The result is that Parks overblows every scene.

The worst (best?) acting has to go to Jennifer Blaire who plays Animala -- part woman and part four different forest animals. You have to admire someone who (for the most part) has dialog that consists of "rowr," "woof," and "meow." When she does start speaking English, however, everything is tinted with a purr like a bad "Catwoman" impersonation.

All of the music and sound effects are from the Valentino Library, the same that was used by so many movies in the 1950s. The result is a genuine mono soundtrack. Of course, that's part of its charm.

The film is entirely shot in black and white. Much of the movie was shot on location at fabled Bronson Canyon (where many B-movies of the 1950s were filmed because of its desolate landscape). The "special" effects are downright awful (yes, you can see the wires when the skeleton moves). The rocketship model that was used for the landing was made out of an old toilet paper roll that had been spray painted silver. Of course, I won't spoil the spectacular climax other than to say that you haven't seen a skeleton battle a mutant until you've seen it like this.

It's truly amazing that someone in Hollywood (or even outside of it) was able to convince investors that a black and white film that would be intentionally bad should be made. Needless to say, I'm glad they did. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.