The Undead

This film isn't THAT bad...sure it's a b-movie, but it stars Alison (va-va-voom!) Hayes (Attack of the 50-Foot Woman), has great music by Ronald Stein, and is dripping with atmosphere. The story is thoughtful, clever, and better than most grade-b stuff from the 50s. The ending could go any which way and the surprise twist is the stuff Twilight Zone episodes were made of.

The Undead is a great film to trot out at Halloween time to scare young kids and for adults to giggle at. Hey, when I saw this one as a kid on TV I was totally SPOOKED! Today, it's "badness" is it's strong suit. Then, it showed promise for a young Corman, who would reach his cinematic pinnacle with his superb mature work, Masque of the Red Death.

This is the story of Diana Love (Pamela Duncan), who undergoes hypnosis and recounts her past life. We are whisked away to olden times, where Diana -now known as Helene- encounters all manner of dangerous situations after being accused of witchcraft. This gets the attention of a real witch named Livia (Allison Hayes), who is none too pleased. From this skeletal storyline emerges the astonishing magnum opus known as THE UNDEAD!

Utterly absurd and completely bonkers, this movie shows what Director Roger Corman was capable of while channeling William Schlockspeare. It could be seen as the sister film of Ed Wood's GLEN OR GLENDA, or simply as a histrionic explosion, complete with nonsensical roles for Billy Barty and Dorothy Neuman. Thankfully, Corman found filler parts for Bruno VeSota and Dick Miller as well.

Extra points for Satan (Richard Devon) and his lovely graveyard dancers!

This wonderful shambles makes us weep with joy! The incomprehensible ramblings of Smolkin (Mel Welles) shall echo through our souls forever...

I saw The Undead many years ago and sad to say before writing this review I got to see it again as part of Mystery Science Theater. No doubt Roger Corman did a whole lot of Thanksgiving specials especially in his early career. But I always rather liked this paradoxical film about hypnotism and travel. And of course a scientist's curiosity which backfires on him in a most peculiar way.

Pamela Duncan is the subject of hypnosis therapy by doctors Maurice Manson and Val Dufour. She's a hooker, but when we first meet her she's under and regresses back to a life in the first millenia AD where she's been condemned to be a witch and scheduled to die. Her mind goes back to that past and she escapes the headman's ax.

Which creates a paradox because if her past life doesn't die it puts her future lives in jeopardy. Knight Richard Garland who's earnest, but a little thick loves the past Duncan and wants to do the knight errant thing and save her. Real witch Allison Hayes has a thing for Garland and doesn't stand a chance while she lives.

Fascinated by the paradox and the drama Dufour regresses himself through hypnosis to see how it all unfolds and meets none other than a medieval Satan himself played by Richard Devon. He also is watching the drama unfold in fact he recognizes Dufour for who he is and states plainly that he is the critic and let the play continue.

No doubt Roger Corman was influenced by all the publicity of the Bridey Murphy controversy and the book and film that was made about it. Of course this is shot on a dental floss budget and it shows in spots, but only rarely.

I waited for years to see this again and review it and despite the MST snide comments during the film I still enjoyed it though Citizen Kane it ain't.

A clever, sly and witty film disguised as a B movie. I assume its low rating is due to the fact that its rarely seen

Yeah, that's right, I like the grave digger AND his incessant singing. Everyone calls him mad, MAD, I say!--but his little ballads are always right on point. He is very reminiscent of the Fool in King Lear--the observer whose supposed simple-mindedness allows him alone to comment insightfully on the madness of the others.

Also, I like movies that teach me things. Like that women in the fifties somehow had both 14" waists and, well, GIGANTIC BREASTS! Weird science, man. It's a wonder that woman didn't snap in two when she stood up.