Submitted for your approval: more evidence the Library of Congress has been tardy
(perhaps even remiss) in adding Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outer Space to the
National Film Registry. Admittedly, the world hardly noticed when it released
in 1959, but since then, it has inspired Tim Burton’s Oscar-winning biopic,
stage musicals, an episode of Rifftrax, a much better-than-expected remake, scores
of midnight screenings, and this affectionate table read (it is really more of
a Zoom read, but whatever). Honestly, which was you rather re-watch, Plan 9 or
the 1959 Best Picture winner, Gigi, featuring fellow-traveling Maurice
Chevalier singing about how much he loves little girls? Clearly, Dana Gould
would opt for Ed Wood. Originally presented as part of SF Sketchfest, Gould’s table
read adaptation of Plan 9 from Outer Space airs tonight as part of the
2021 TCM Classic Film Festival.
Gould
plays The Amazing Criswell and he never stints on the sensationalistic bluster.
It might sound like he exaggerates the overblown intro, but if you compare it
to Wood’s film (which airs afterward), he sticks pretty close to the original
text. However, much of the narration duties will be handled by vintage SNL cast-member
Laraine Newman, who gets big laughs with her sardonic attempts to justify the
film’s massive logic and credibility gaps.
In
addition to Gould and Newman, Bobcat Goldthwait does some of his funniest work
in years as Kelton the cop (played in the movie by fan-favorite Paul Marco). In
fact, Kelton’s prominence shows how well Gould knows his Woodverse. Yet, the
biggest name participating might be Bob Odenkirk, who suitably hams it up as
the alien Ruler.
Sometimes
monsters are a metaphor for man’s inhumanity. Other times, they are just icky,
slimy buggers. The first of monster of the Creepshow season finale is
both, but they are much more the latter, whereas the episode’s second monster
is more about the former. Either way there will be monsters in the first season
capper of Creepshow, which just debuted on Shudder.
In
Skincrawlers, Dr. Sloan has developed a radical weight loss technique
employing a rare form of monster leech he discovered in South America. Yep, you
already get the idea. He has no shortage of volunteers to help launch his
treatment, but Henry Quayle is still skeptical. Nevertheless, the
transformation of a fellow fatty into a hottie convinces him to be the
volunteer for Sloan’s big TV premiere, but there will be complications.
Skincrawlers
is
absolutely vintage Creepshow. It is gleefully gory and disgusting, but
the blood and slime is all in good tasteless fun. Screenwriters Paul Dini and
Stephen Langford serve up big laughs and director Roxanne Benjamin keeps upping
the WTF stakes. This is what Creepshow and the E.C. Comics that inspired
it were all about. As an added bonus, Dana Gould keeps it all mostly grounded,
playing Quayle with sad-clown-dignity—and handling the gallons of practical
effects like a champ.
It
is therefore surprising the first season ends with the middling By the Silver
Water of Lake Champlain, even though it is based on a Joe Hill short story
and is directed by Tom Savini (thereby establishing another apostolic link to
the 1982 movie). In fact, Lake Champlain follows a narrative course that
is very similar to that of Creepshow’s The Companion, based on a Joe R.
Lansdale story. In this case, a sea monster replaces a killer scarecrow, but
domestic violence still represents a more pressing danger.
