The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (2001)

A bad scientist and wife, a mad scientist and skeleton, two aliens and their escaped pet are all searching for the elusive element "atmospherium".

Director:

Larry Blamire

Writer:

Larry Blamire

Stars:

Larry Blamire, Fay Masterson, Brian Howe

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Fay Masterson	...	Betty Armstrong
Andrew Parks	...	Kro-Bar
Susan McConnell	...	Lattis
Brian Howe	...	Dr. Roger Fleming
Jennifer Blaire	...	Animala
Larry Blamire	...	Dr. Paul Armstrong
Dan Conroy	...	Ranger Brad
Robert Deveau	...	The Farmer
Darrin Reed	...	The Mutant

Storyline

A dedicated scientist, aided by his clueless wife, rolls up his shirt sleeves and tries to save the world from a radioactive monster, curious space aliens, an evil scientist and a crabby skeleton in this send-up of the best of the B movies of the 1950's.

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Plot Keywords:

skeleton | alien | b movie | spoof | title spoken by character | 

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Taglines:

This was the day the Earth was disemboweled in terror!

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cadavra elveszett csontváza

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,425, 8 February 2004

Gross USA:

$143,121

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$143,121

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fragmighty, Transom Films, Valenti Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (production logos)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the props were purchased on eBay. Others were inexpensive props made of household items like toilet paper tubes, candle holders and caulk guns. A number of props were obtained by looking around the cabin in which part of the film was shot, including the mashed potatoes the cast are seen eating.

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Goofs

Most errors in continuity and acting are purposeful and are part of the gag in recreating the '50s B movie experience. For example during the cabin sequence, Dr. Fleming's jacket disappears between shots immediately after Ranger Brad arrives, Animala suddenly sprouting furry gloves without explanation during the last half of her appearance in the film, the visible wires on the Skeleton, and the shoes of the actor portraying the mutant during some of the walking scenes.

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Quotes

Kro-Bar: Good work, Lattis. The human where-abouter has led us right to where the humans are. Evidently these beings like primitive, almost rustic, structures.
Lattis: How foolish they are.
Dr. Roger Fleming: [watching, out of sight] Aliens... from outer space.
Kro-Bar: Careful my love, for we must seem to like such things now, like this foolish structure and all things human.
Lattis: I catch on, my Kro-Bar. Almost as if we were... pretending.
Kro-Bar: Pretending... I like the way you put things, my Queen. Mysterious, and yet perfectly understandable.
Lattis: Oh ...

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Crazy Credits

Filmed in the New Miracle Wonder of the Screen - Skeletorama

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Alternate Versions

A slightly shortened version (one scene removed) of "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra" was released by Sony/Tristar (with a 2003 copyright); 35mm prints played commercially, theatrically early in 2004. Columbia Tristar Home Video released a special edition DVD in the summer of 2004. Another company also exhibited this particular print overseas.

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: The Killer Eye, They Bite, and Xtro (2013)

User Reviews

Brilliant and terrible at the same time

That's what it was supposed to be and that's what it succeeds at. As a die hard fan of B- movies from the 50s, I felt like I could have made this movie, but I wouldn't have done as good a job. With a microbudget and a script written in five days, the filmmakers had all the right ingredients for a delightful send up.

The cheesy dialogue and deliberately awkward moments are true gems and it is obvious that this is a real labor of love, a collaborative effort between a group of friends who just wanted to make something fun.

No pretensions, no car chases, no show-offy special effects, no Hollywood celebrities chewing the scenery and trying to make themselves look sexy all the time. This film is an example of the kind of movies made by fans for the fans, with no kowtowing to political correctness, celebrity egos, or the lowest common denominator.

If you love Ed Wood, Robot Monster and Catwomen on the Moon, this film will split your sides with laughter. If not, I implore you to cast aside Lindsey Lohan and Ashton Kutcher for an afternoon and try something new.