Cinema Saturday: The Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra

Cinema Saturday Presents : The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra

Year: 2001

Run time: 1hr 30 min

Rating: PG

Movie Grade: B+

Principle Cast:

Director/Writer/Dr. Paul Armstrong: Larry Blamire

Fay Masterson :Betty Armstrong

Andrew Parks: Kro-Bar

Susan McConnell: Lattis

Brian Howe: Dr. Roger Fleming

Jennifer Blaire: Animala

Skeleton: Himself

Synopsis:  A meteorite lands on earth carrying a precious mineral that is sought after by a psychic Skeleton, two bumbling aliens and a geologist. 

Spoiler free review: If you love old B movies or you just love to make fun of them this comedic parody of those wonderful silver era films is a treat for you.




Review: 

usually when a backwater blog tells you that they are going to review a black and white independent film one would expect some sort of pretentious French film about the meaninglessness of life while focusing on someone’s eye ball for 15 minutes.  But not here, this cinema Saturday were going to visit the greatest independent satire of 1950 B movies starring a skeleton ever made, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. 

Many modern movies have tried to imitate or parody the old low budget drive in B movies from the 50’s and 60’s but capturing that era’s unique quirkiness is no easy task and many would be filmmakers fail to achieve that delicate balance between being pleasantly cheesy and just being plain bad.  Most of these failures might be because most films simply try to mimic another old B movie instead trying to put their own personal spin on an old idea while or perhaps they just expect the audience to be less critical “because it’s satire”, either way most of these films end up in the same garbage heap as their predecessors.

Then comes the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra which hits that corny sweet spot. The films “accidentally on purpose” style of bad film making really sells the whole movie on being knowingly satirist while also staying true to the essence of what made the old black and white films fun.  I have honestly never seen a crew work so hard at being purposely terrible and still come out with such an amazing finished product. 

The actors all deserves awards for how well they play terrible actors in a fifties B movie. I mean it must take some real discipline to purposely try and overact a scene or intentionally delay a cue.   Andrew Parks, who plays Kro-Bar even admits that is motivation for playing the character was imagining himself as a small time actor and the character of  Kro-bar was the best role he had ever gotten in his life so he was going to ham it up in hopes of being noticed, it’s this kind of dedication to a practically no budget film that personally I think helps the movie feel more genuine.  I can’t help but be caught up in the infectious zeal that the crew has for their movie.

Lost Skeleton is delightfully cheesy but this double edge sword is the reason Lost Skeleton will not resonate with everyone.   Lost Skeleton of Cadavra is not trying to be a “good” movie it is purposely cheap with Z grade special effects, questionable editing and cringe inducing dialogue which may be a turn off to someone who has no love or experience with the genera.  Like most satire Lost Skeleton of Cadavra needs a certain appreciation for the genera it is making fun of otherwise the main point of the humor will be lost on the viewer.  

  Larry Blamire's  immense commitment to his project is clearly demonstrated by how many hats he juggled during this movie as was writer, director, and actor,  really helps the film feel like a labor of love rather then some of the soulless studio cash grabs that get put out on a regular basis.

Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it is arguably among the best parody B movie out there  and he cheapness of the film only adds to the appeal. Any lover of Shockley Sci-fi will most certainly fine  themselves completely enraptured by the side splitting comedy that Is The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.

 But humans are such fickle creatures, can they ever truly be pleased? 

…. hmmm, I wonder.

….. Oh well. 

Fast facts:

. nearly all the props for the film were either bought on ebay or found around the cabin where the film was shot.

. filmed at the infamous Bronson canyon, the cost of the permits’ needed to film at this location were the film’s most costly expense.  Running them nearly a tenth of their budget.

. during one shoot the team had to bribe a noisy construction crew to leave for an hour so they could finish shooting a sequence.

. a sequel was produced with the hopes of doing a third film but lack of funding caused the project to be abandoned.

Quotes:

Ranger Brad: Oh, say... You don't believe those old legends about the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, do you?

Dr. Roger Fleming: Ranger Brad, I'm a scientist, I don't believe in anything.

Kro-Bar: You know, this talking that we are doing is very helpful in getting to know your people and mine. Why, as we observed you from afar, we thought of you as little more than pleasant entertaining monkeys, so dirty and foul.

Dr. Paul Armstrong: I don't understand. Why does she need an Amish terrarium?

Betty Armstrong: Don't the Amish live in open air, like us?

Dr. Paul Armstrong: Of course, Betty, it's absurd. Putting the Amish in glass cases would be inhumane.

Skeleton: Stop that giggling. It makes me uncomfortable.

Mini Commentary:

:38: not even a full minute and it already feels like a real B movie. This is going to be great!

7:10: And Now you Know: these animal shots were filmed by the crew then later edited to the film to make them look like stock footage.

15:17-32 that is some serious dedication to a mad scientist laugh, how does he not pass out?

17:41 Fleming is using a children’s Jr. science kit to do his experiments. It’s little touches like this that make the movie.

20:10 that look when even you don’t know what your own alien device does

23:58:  I love that the aliens must take these completely unnecessary poses to transform.

27:26:  These names are so much more ridicules then their alien names.

29:35 everyone has made this face when having guests over at some point

30:24 probably one of the best lines in the movie.

35:00 sheesh, that is a mouthful. I wonder how many takes it took to complete that sentence.

38:00 When your dinner guest suggests something so outrageous that you have to wonder is that something I need to worry about?

41:  in the span of three minutes the exact phrase “horrible mutilations” is worked into the script nine times.

43:  the dinner party is arguably the best sequence of the movie.

44:40: The Skeletons conversational dialogue never fails to make me laugh.

52:47 And Now You Know pt 2: the click from Animala was a cue for the camera crew to know that
the dance sequence was starting.

53: I have no idea why being four different forest Animals give Animala hypnotics powers…. But I’m absolutely on bored with it.

1:02:00: I like that he must give out his full name and title

1:05:43: that’s a spit take right there.

1:08:00 that’s what you’re going take away from all this is?

1:11:00 those two came over a 1000 miles? … wait, they would have had to travel…Oh! I get it, funny.

1:16:47:  that long pause as you know he is considering licking it.

1:20:25 I love how Paul not only comes in after his wife but basically just uses her same quip.

1:22:03 fight of the century.

BE ASTOUNDED BY THE HYPNOTIC DANCE OF THE SEDUCTIVE ANIMALA!!

Journey Into the Odd: Oklahoma Rattlesnake & Venom Museum

Journey into the Odd:

Oklahoma Rattlesnake & Venom Museum

Oklahoma may be official home of the cowboy but lurking in its elevated plains and forested areas are over forty-six different species of snakes that also call this midwestern state home.   With so many slithering serpents its not a wonder that Oklahoma would be the only state outside of New Mexico to construct a herpetarium around some of the deadlier members of the species.  The Oklahoma City Rattlesnake & Venom Museum is a very modest collection of common to exotic venomous animals displayed in a flashy if not cramped
walk-through exhibit.  The collection of animals was impressive especially considering they are a tiny unaffiliated attraction that basically sums up to one man’s privet collection.  In addition to the rattlers the Museum advertises they also had a number of different snakes including a black mamba, Pit Viper and even a fully-grown King Cobra named Zeus.  The real surprise outside of the King Cobra was a massively big tortoise.  It was explained by the owner that the Tortoise had been a gift from the zoo he worked at and even offered to let the patrons scratch it’s neck like a puppy which brought great joy to both this reviewer and said tortoise.  The staff were very friendly, though sometimes a little “too” friendly as they could be a little pushy about making sure you saw “this” animal or “that” one and in a small confined place like the museum that could make some people a little uncomfortable or overwhelmed.  Some of the animal cages seemed rather small for the animal’s they were holding but none looked unhealthy at the time of the visit and since the owner is a former zoo employee, I can only assume that all the animals are well looked after.  What the Museum lacks in space It more then makes up in showmanship, all the animal cages are intricately designed to represent the animal’s natural habitat while also allowing museum attendees to be able to see the animal’s up close and personal.  The Rattlesnake & Venom Museum is not the reason you go to Oklahoma City but it is a nice detour if you happen to be in the area and are looking for something fun and inexpensive to do while in town.

Heads up before you head out:

. there is no official website just a Facebook page

.  the museum closes at 4 but is open every day of the week.

. there is merchandise for sale but no official gift shop and the merch do not have not prices labeled.

. admission is free, you can make a donation if you like but it is not required.

. Parking is very limited and being on a major road walking is a bit of a challenge too so if you go during a high tourist season just know that you might have to wait until a space at the museum opens up.