The Naked Monster (2005) Reviews

• "Attack Of The B-Movie Monster"

  JBT-DMC2005-08-11

  I remember in 1985, at a Science Fiction convention at a hotel in Fullerton, California (back when "V" was the "big thing" at the convention). I was 17 at the time, and found that it was hilarious. I have been waiting for it to come out on video (and now DVD), and have hunted for "Attack Of The B-Movie Monster" for years. Now it has gone beyond the 60 something minute film spoof, that it was back then. I can not wait to see this version as soon as it comes out on DVD and add it to my collection (great movie, but since it is pretty much an "art film", as much as a parody can be, I doubt it will have wide release in theaters). My favorite scene was one that the director of the film explained at the convention that was made "illegally" (they did not have a filming permit to film at the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California).... there were a group of Japanese tourists there in front of the Observatory... they knew NOTHING about the filming and were not "in on the joke"... they quickly set up a camera, the actors run in, point to the sky, and scream "Godzilla"... and the reaction from the Japanese Tourists was just "classic". This was an example of "Gonzo Film-making" at its best. It has been 20 years, but I remember the film as if I saw it just yesterday. Be it under its original name as the "short film" of 60 something minutes of "Attack of the B-Movie Monster" or be it under its new name of its feature length name of "The Naked Monster", I can not wait to see how it has come out as a finished film. It truly was some of the best acting of the "B-Movie" actors who did some of their last acting in this film. If you love the old "creature features" or "B-Movies", this is a movie you will enjoy. If you are a fan of parodies, you will love it even if you are not a "B-Movie" fan. I would give the original a 10, and I am sure this version is that and more.

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• Try Having a Sense of Humor

  SniperCA2006-09-01

  You have to approach this movie with humor and nostalgia. If you look only at the technical aspect of the film, yes you will find things to complain about. The humor in it, the one liners, the cameos, the nods to the classic monster movies, that's what this film was to me. Call it "Z-grade" all you want...I thought it was a nice tribute to the genre. There is no doubt this was a low budget film. Yes the SPX can hit the cheese level as can some of the acting. I looked beyond that though and saw some writing and scenes that got me chuckling. Every new cameo from a genre star got me to smile as well. I applaud the film makers for doing what they did on a small budget and doing it with some humor as well as some respect for the classic monster movies.

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• Great Fun for Fans !!!

  Dejael2008-05-04

  This is one that only gets better every time you see it. Made circa 1986-1987 in classic black & white (the IMDb release date is merely that of its video reissue), pop sci-fi fantasy genre filmmaker Ted Newsom's got it down in every scene with some fine-tuned scriptwriting and brings back many fine performers from their B-movie heyday in the Fabulous Fifties, places his characters in a typical cheesy plot, and then lets the audience decide for themselves. This film was first shown at a Los Angeles sci-fi film convention circa 1988, and since the filmmakers couldn't secure a good distribution deal the film slipped into celluloid oblivion except with the fans who saw it and remembered it fondly like me. Thanks to video this movie has a whole new audience, bigger by far than the few thousand fans who saw it when it was first released on film circa 24 years ago. If you don't know this movie was made for fans, and with tongue very much in cheek, then you won't catch all the gags and subtle nuances which resonate with the era of Psychotronic films. And you'll miss out on all the fun - of course it's supposed to be cheap and cheesy - that's the point - but it's also got that 'studio gloss' that showed in the better 1950s studios' efforts with a good music score by Ronald Stein, black & white cinematography, editing, art direction, costumes, etc. Ken Tobey is up for the challenge to reprise his character from Howard Hawks' The THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (RKO, 1951) and he aces the job with clever well-placed timing and humor, and makes us cheer when he finally puts on Captain Hendry's "Monster fighting suit" (a vintage leather bomber flight jacket exactly like his wardrobe in The THING). Other stars, including 1953's WAR OF THE WORLDS' Ann Robinson, are equally adept at milking their plum cameo roles in this campy 'spot-the-stars' night out. A fine time is to be had by all fans of 1950s B-sci-fi and horror movies. Pass the popcorn! (Originally posted on January 3, 2005)

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• Right Up There With Blamire's LOST SKELETON

  JessieLilley2005-06-01

  I really did enjoy this film. Laughed out loud and saw the joy and love that went into the compilation and final cut. The parade of science fiction memories and stars from the 50s and 60s is almost breathtaking. The script is wry and spot on the various targets writer Ted Newsom sets up and knocks down as this tale of lunacy unfolds. You'll laugh but I assure you, you will NOT cry. A beautiful scientist, a handsome hero, bumbling assistants, various squashed red shirts, a brain-dead cop and a grizzled and sad monster killer PLUS three gorillas (Count 'Em, THREE!) combine to give the true fan a couple of hours of hoots and howls. EVERYbody got in on this one, including my personal favorite brilliant scientist: Robert Cornthwaite. Rock on Newsom. It's a beauty! Bring it out on DVD! -Jessie Lilley: http://www.mondocult.com

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• Hilarious, warm-hearted movie

  fkelleghan2005-05-24

  I thank Ted Newsom for having finished this 12-year effort. Many of us are grateful to him. I believe that one must be familiar with vintage horror movies to really appreciate the jokes. Thanks to my guy (known as Tim Sullivan (V) to the IMDb crowd), I've been learning about vintage horror films for a couple of years, so I was primed. From the first moment I started laughing. Here is Ted Newsom, playing 'William Castle' (qv) to the hilt, with all the warnings about what audiences might find under their seats ... and yet parodying that old Castle-y buncum to the hilt! Yay, Ted! I laughed and laughed ... and when you came back to escort us away from the film, I cried. The dialogue (which I blame on Ted Newsom, though I don't know whether he wrote it with friends) is absolutely delightful. If you enjoyed the puns in "Batman," then you will find this script to be many times more, er, egregious. Since I love bad puns, I laughed out loud even when the delivery was not perfect: because I could see what the actors were *supposed* to carry off, even if they didn't, quite. Brinke Stevens, who has acted in nearly a hundred movies, is purely delightful (and sexy, for those of you who will enjoy the gratuitous sex; you might even enjoy the discussions among the characters about what constitutes gratuitousness). Ted, that was just plan brilliant. So many parodistic effects that I admired ... Let me mention the sexy, nearly-terrifying tryst of the young, deaf couple (I wish *I* had thought that one up!); the hilarious discussion between Doctors Howard, Fine, and Howard (breathes there a man, with soul so dead / Who never to himself hath said, / This is the type of movie to throw the 3 Stooges into!); and, of course, all of the veteran scientists recommending what would be best to do, based upon their own past movies! Ted Newsom, you have made me laugh until I cried, and I have seen it only twice. I need several more times to identify Every Single Movie being homaged here. I loved every pun, both verbal and visual. This is a brilliant movie. I congratulate you, Ted, and I hope that the eggs point toward a sequel!

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