THE SHIP OF MONSTERS (LA NAVE DE LOS MONSTRUOS)
(director: Rogelio A. González; screenwriter: Alfredo Varela/story by José María Fernández Unsáin; cinematographer: Raúl Martínez Solares; editor: Carlos Savage; music: Kevin MacLeod; cast: Eulalio Gonzalez (Lauriano), Ana Bertha Lepe (Gamma), Lorena Velazquez (Beta), Heberto Dávila Jr. (Chuy), Consuelo Frank (Regent of Venus); Runtime: 82; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Jesus Sotomajor; B-Movie Club; 1960-Mexico-in Spanish with English subtitles)
“The more you think you understand the less you actually do.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
An unusual science fiction/horror/comedy/musical that when released was much maligned, but eventually has caught on with cult film fans who are not seriously critiquing it but digging it for what it is. This most entertaining film is directed by Rogelio A. González(“Conquest of the Moon”/”Por Eso”/”The Oval Portrait”). Alfredo Varela adapts it from a story by José María Fernández Unsáin.
Two sexy space travelers from Venus, Beta (Lorena Velazquez) and Gamma (Ana Bertha Lepe), travel in space with a stupid-looking robot, on orders from the regent of Venus, (Consuelo Frank), to bring back male mates to repopulate the planet because all the males were killed in an atomic war. On their travels across the galaxy, they collect a menagerie of fantastic monsters such as a one-eyed giant. Reaching Earth for spaceship repairs, the girls can’t locate any suitable males until they stumble across a singing cowboy named Lauriano (Eulalio Gonzalez). He croons about being sad because he has found no one worthy to truly love. When Gamma wants to bring him back to Vegas, Beta reveals herself as a vampire and says she wants him for herself. For disobeying orders, Gamma goes after a fleeing Beta.
This should give you a rough idea of what you have to put up with in this bizarre flick. In some versions it’s only in Spanish. But that shouldn’t matter, because in this pic the more you think you understand the less you actually do.
REVIEWED ON 4/29/2015 GRADE: B