Kiwi kino (1/27/01)
____________
The Astro-Zombies. [Ted V. Mikels, 1968.]
Mad scientist John Carradine’s forbidden experiments reanimating skullfaced cadavers controlled by telepathy and powered by solar cells succeed in creating a race of remote-controlled robot astronauts ideally suited for the exploration of the solar system; unfortunately the defective criminal brains implanted in his robot zombies possess them with a lust for blood which can only be slaked by raping and butchering women in filmy underthings. CIA bozos must contend with a posse of foreign agents led by the formidable black widow Tura Satana as they try to hunt the madman down and find his secret laboratory. — Renowned as a cult classic, though it hardly seems bad enough to warrant this distinction. — The most jarring moment, actually, came early in the development, when the Feds met in somebody’s office to talk strategy and I realized the portrait hanging on the wall in the background was that of Lyndon Johnson. — Gaah. — And you thought Bush was a mistake.
____________Cockney bull (1/19/01)
