Laserblast

As I saw that, I was stunned. Leonard Maltin rates movies on a scale of one to four. I'll give it 2 1/2 stars out of ten, maybe. The plot is stupid and full of holes. Aliens fight on earth for some reason and kill this guy with green skin, who drops his laser gun. A loser that everyone picks on (for good reason) finds this gun and starts blasting everyone and everything that did him wrong. Especially hilarious are when he blows up a pinball machine (did it take his quarter?) and when he blows up a billboard that says simply "Star Wars" (Huh?). It's every bit as bad as it sounds. Roddy McDowell actually appeared in this movie - he must have been hurting bad for a movie role. Just remember, according to Leonard Maltin, this is better than "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (which only got two stars). Worth watching once on its own for camp, but recommended especially for MST3K. The episode doesn't run on TV anymore and can't be found on Rhino, though, so it's tough to find. Pretty bad. This movie marked the point I stopped trusting Leonard Maltin altogether.

To my surprise this is actually a Fullmoon movie, the company well known only for cheesy horror films. Apparently they do sci-fi even worse.

Laserblast presently sits with a 2.6 rating on IMDB, which is astoundingly low. I didn't think for a second it would be that bad, it actually is.

It tells the story of a young man who finds a laser cannon in the desert, after wielding it and the necklace that came with it he is periodically transformed into a creature hellbent on destruction.

Looking at the cover you'd think the "Creature" was Gary Busey, in the film it's more an early Romero zombie.

The special effects are embarassing even for the time, the plot is riddled with holes and the whole thing comes off amateurish.

One of the worst films every made? No. Deserving of 2.6? Absolutely.

The Good:

Erm.....

The Bad:

Looks hideous

Just can't take it seriously

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Aliens are just giant turtles without shells who wear shiney gloves

Unless they're given by Leonard Maltin. What was he thinking? This terrible movie has everything against it: Unlikeable characters, bad acting, laughable special effects, and virtually no plot. Only Roddy McDowall's presence and the stop-motion aliens save the movie from a big fat bomb. This was a 1 star movie at best. Shame on you, Mr. Maltin.

I cannot believe the low rating this film has. First of all, I have to give credit to the stop-motion animation. When I first saw this in 1978 in the theatre, I was impressed, just a touch below Harryhausen quality. Too bad if you disagree! Second, the adolescent setting is just fine. Teen angst, bullying, small-town doldrums in the 1970's. I remember the 70's and it was about this dirt-poor culturally. We didn't have Internet, plasma TV, cell phones, or CD's. We had portable tape players and we used pay phones. Third, you have to love Kim Milford's impression of a cooked Mark Hamill. Come on! Fourth, Eddie Deezen is about as annoying as you've ever seen him. High marks. Fifth, the story is good. Aliens returning for their lost weapon. Gives us all hope. I've seen the movie several times and it's always a satisfying time. 8 of 10

I swear every time I see that Star Wars billboard get blown up I almost wet myself. What more can you ask of cheap Sci-Fi than Laserblast? Granted it doesn't have that 50's kitch like Angry Red Planet, but it WAS the 70's. Personally I love and own this film. If you can see the true beauty in astoundingly bad film making, then you should see Laserblast. I mean one character gets mutated into a green laser-blasting monster by a salt shaker he wears around his neck!! and there's bad stop-action aliens!! YES! it took 2 guys to write it!!! 2!!! and they called it LASERBLAST!

I think if you consider the general aesthetic of the seventies, you will see that this is the ULTIMATE 70's movie. I regret never seeing it at a drive in.