SCIFIHISTORY.NET
  • MAINPAGE
  • About
  • Reviews
  • December
  • November
  • October
  • September
  • August
  • July
  • June
  • May
  • April
  • March
  • February
  • January

Stardate 03.01.2023.A: Happy Birthday - 1978's 'Laserblast' Continues To Unimpress 45 Years Later

3/1/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
"Pow! Pa-pa-pow!"
          -- Billy Duncan (as played by Kim Milford)


There's something to be said about celebrating bad movies.

Though rules are made to be broken, I don't suppose anyone ever etched in stone the commandment that every movie should be good -- or, at least, worthwhile -- but Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror certainly have had their fair share of stinkers.  I've always maintained that -- unlike other types of films -- genre entertainment tends to more often than not celebrate those features that go so gloriously, gloriously wrong.  While there are exceptions to every rule (hello, Showgirls), genre fans have long shown a willingness to embrace the weird, the wacky, and the wildest failures of record.  Hell, we've even had a little something something called Mystery Science Theater 3000 evolve as a consequence of our collective delight at poking fun at some of cinema's boldest oddities.  That says something, and I'll leave it at that.

Indeed, one of the flicks forever lampooned by the yucksters at MST3K was 1978's Laserblast.  And -- might I add -- it was deserved so lampooned.

​Directed by Michael Rae from a script by Franne Schacht and Frank Ray Perilli, the film starred Kim Milford, Cheryl Smith, Gianni Russo, Ron Masak, Dennis Burkley, and some curious Claymation aliens.  According to IMDB.com, the picture had its theatrical premiere on this day all the way back in 1978 in -- jointly -- Sweden and the United States.  (Why there?  Why Sweden?  We may never know.)  Here's the plot summary as provided by the site:

"A teenager stumbles upon an alien weapon, which transforms him into a grotesque killer."

Interestingly enough, Perilli's is a name I've come across before.  (Actually, I think it may be the only one in the entirety of this project that I've seen on more than a single occasion.)  I'd read a bit of his background in a handful of places, and I'm aware that he's worked on scripts for such projects as Mansion Of The Doomed (1976), Dracula's Dog (1977), End Of The World (1977), and Alligator (1980), so it isn't as if Laserblast came about from the entirely uninitiated.  The man had some modest credentials, so it is curious how this particular film evolved (or is that devolved?) into its legendary state.
​
But there's another name associated with Laserblast that perhaps explains just how and why it did reasonably well back then and continues to resonate with cult audiences today: producer Charles Band.

Band is a bit of a Hollywood legend -- especially in parts of the Information Superhighway where fans of mildly off-center projects propagate -- and he's a known commodity for connoisseurs of quality B-Movies.  All one need do is check out the man's incredible resume on IMDB.com (here), and you'll see that he's been associated with well over three hundred different projects and well on his way to four hundred!  About as prolific as they come in the world of genre properties, his name is attached to such franchises as Trancers, Puppet Master, and Josh Kirby: Time Warrior.  You don't last as long in the entertainment business as Band has done without knowing a thing or two about both money and success, and I can't help but wonder how much of Laserblast's longevity is truly owed to having that underdog/maverick working behind-the-scences.
​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Whatever stuffing Laserblast has that has kept fans of genuine schlock coming back to the feast, it's safe to say that the meal hasn't quite spoiled.  In fact, IMDB.com reports that there have been a few loosely-inspired remakes of the original -- if not even loosely-inspired sequels -- and that has to count for something in any age of entertainment.  Kudos to those who've found it, endured its zany mediocrity, and continues to sing whatever praises can be found within.

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

​-- EZ
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Reviews
    ​Archive
    ​

    Reviews

    birthdays
    Archive
    ​

    January
    February
    March
    April
    May
    June
    July
    August
    September
    October
    November
    December

    mainpage
    ​ posts

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly