Hey folks, Valkor here. And I wish the folks at Warner Home had sent this next film out in time for the "15 Films of Horror"; it would have been so perfect! Regardless, The Green Slime, directed by Kinji Fukasaku, is an out of this world, cheesefest experience.
In the film "The Green Slime", a giant asteroid is racing towards earth, which could spell doom for our planet. A team of astronauts, lead by Commander Jack Rankin (Robert Horton), journey to the asteroid in an attempt to blow it up. While setting up the explosives, Dr. Halvorsen (Ted Gunther), discovers a strange green slime. He tries to take some back for study purposes, but is denied. However a touch of the stuff gets stuck on one of the suits. The crew escapes by the skin of their teeth from the explosion of the asteroid and make it back to the space station. When the suits are decontaminated, the green slime that was stuck to one, forms into a giant, one eyed creature that electrocutes its foes. The creature feeds off energy. And not only that, if it bleeds, the blood can form into a creature as well, as a way of reproduction. With the space station infested with the green slime creature, it's up to Rankin and crew to try and put a stop to it.
The Green Slime is a part of the Warner Home Archive Collection and it has been remastered audio and video, to give it that perfect shine. How did it fare?
The Good:
The Green Slime is the perfect mesh of east meets west, where you have American actors slapped into a world of men in giant rubber suits. The story is straight forward, quick paced and loads of fun. The dialogue is so cheesy, at times you can't help but laugh. But this is 1969 super cheesy sci-fi – dialogue isn't that important. The acting is pretty solid, Robert Horton's Commander Rankin is a take no guff from no one officer, where it's his way or the highway. And being in space, you don't want option 2. Luciana Paluzzi plays the love interest Dr. Lisa Benson, who is way too hot for 1969 standards. I thought cleavage was a no-no back then? Finally, praise needs to be given on a wonderful job remastering this classic piece of cinema. Video wise, colors nearly jumps off the screen they look so good. It practically looks new. No complaints on the audio side either as everything comes through the speakers crystal clear. Great job all around!
The Bad:
Because the remastering was done so well, the cheapness of it all shines through. I shouldn't call this a bad thing; it's more or less adds to the overall charm of the film. Also, I'm not a fan of the opening theme either. I mean for a horror/sci-fi that was just too upbeat and way to "funkay".
The Ugly:
Ugh! The Green Slime Monster. If I had seen this film as a child, I think I'd be haunted to this day.
If you like your horror/sci-fi with a heavy dollop of cheese, then definitely pick up The Green Slime. It's a wonderful film that's sure to drum up a few scares and laughs in your home this season. I highly recommend it. And out of TOV 5 stars, I give The Green Slime. 3.5 and it's been Valkor tested and TOV Approved.
