| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Criswell | ... | The Emperor | |
| Fawn Silver | ... | The Black Ghoul | |
| Pat Barrington | ... | Shirley / Gold Girl (as Pat Barringer) | |
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William Bates | ... | Bob |
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Mickey Jines | ... | Hawaiian Dance |
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Barbara Nordin | ... | Skeleton Dance |
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Bunny Glaser | ... | Indian Dance |
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Nadejda Klein | ... | Slave Dance (as Nadejda Dobrev) |
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Coleen O'Brien | ... | Street Walker Dance |
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Lorali Hart | ... | Cat Dance (as Texas Starr) |
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Rene De Beau | ... | Fluff Dance |
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Stephanie Jones | ... | Mexican Dance |
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Dene Starnes | ... | Zombie Dance |
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Louis Ojena | ... | The Mummy |
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John Andrews | ... | The Wolfman / Giant |
Bob and his girlfriend Shirley go in search of a cemetery in order to inspire John for writing his next horror story. After they crash the car, they wander into the graveyard and encounter the dancing dead, a full moon spectacle overseen by the Ruler of the Dark. Before long the couple is spotted and taken prisoner. Tied to stakes and forced to watch the dancing, they await their fate. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Add this film to the "Looks Better On DVD Than It Has Any Right To" list. The recent DVD release reveals far better original material than the old VHS showed. We get to see every droplet in the swirling fog, every quiver of the dancers' flesh. We get to see just how dead Criswell's pan is. Every flaw is brilliantly illuminated. How can this old low-budget stuff end up looking better than many a modern film?
Sure, this movie is slow, tedious, repetitious and ultimately pointless. But it grows on you. Like fungus. It has an odd sincerity, in its utter badness. Somehow, nobody seems to really understand that they are making a bad movie -- the secret of the charm of the Ed Wood universe.
I have not only the new DVD, but also the full (including dialogue) soundtrack CD which I have listened to many times. I admit to a strange, childish pleasure to be typing away at work while listening to dialogue like, "A pussy cat was born to be whupped!"
Would-be indie filmmakers should take inspiration from this film, as it is proof that no matter how bad the dreck put to film may be, it can see distribution and perhaps even a profit. And, filmmaking lets you hang out with naked babes.
I'm working on the sequel now. Watch for it.