"Astronaut returns from space apparently dead; when he awakens, he's
found to have alien
embryos within him--a pregnant man! The alien also turns up
murderously. Well-directed
but too low-budget to succeed."
There are many annoying trends in movies. Trends that manifest themselves as plots that repeat themselves over and over until they are finally just rendered inert. These are good ideas for only a movie or two, before they die out and the humor that once hung by their side is now just dripping into an open sewer.
This phenomenon is what makes 'pregnant men' movies even more repulsive.
Pregnant men. Apparently, the idea that men with giant bellies and menstrual cramps amuses some. I am not one of these, because it shows a certain one-sided contempt for the supposed-rougher sex. Sure, it isn't easy being a woman. But it certainly isn't easier by just being a man, excluding monthly cycles and mood swings. But, every so often, you will see another 'pregnant man' movie that is more designed to bring more women into a theater to either self-indulge themselves and their extraordinary pain or....well, who else watches these movies besides angry women? Well, maybe film students without an original thought in their heads (and who actually talk about James Cameron as the God of All Cinema...you know, those dorks who don't know a damn thing about movies), which aren't few in number. Or perhaps action stars who want to have their dramatic cake and eat it too....yes, Arnold, I'm looking at you.
Anyway, like it or not, we enter probably the beginning of these films. Welcome to the '50s schlockfest "Night of the Blood Beast."
An astronaut is sent into space to presumably orbit the planet and is struck down by a mysterious light. After the authorities get to his body, they find it dead still in the capsule. Taking back to base, they find that he's not decomposing yet.....not even at a minute rate a fresh body should. Then murders start to happen, the scientists search the place, then come back to find that the astronaut is ALIVE!! And, sadly, implanted with the embryos of some alien lifeform who looks like the 'scientist in the furry radiation suit' from "Teenage Caveman." Then the alien bursts into the place (to protect it's young?) then escapes again to a cave outside of the main installation. A cave, however, that is Bronson Canyon, which has been used for various TV and film productions from 1950-1970. Like "Robot Monster." "The Outer Limits." Hell, watch ANY 1950's schlock and you'll have a 65% of seeing Bronson Canyon.
And "EEGAH." That too.
Anyway, after cornering the monster at Bronson Canyon, the astronaut pleads his friends to spare the creature's life, saying that the embryos inside him are the start of a new civilization. But since a movie like this can't end this way, the astronaut finally tackles the monster and all his friends destroy the both of them. Cue "Tampered in God's Domain" ending, then roll the credits.
This movie was written by Gene Corman, who had help from his brother Roger (yup, that's him) in making this. While not a bad little flick, I can almost see why it was the Seventh Season opener for the show. The monster is delightfully cheesy, the movie is short but nice on action, and it won't bore you. More lively than Corman's "Teenage Caveman," it's definitely worth a watch if you have an hour and fifteen minutes to spare.
RATING: Go ahead, watch it unMSTed....unless you have a good copy of the Non-Turkey Day MSTing. Then contact me. Three out of Four Stars. Give it a chance.