My Thoughts on Vampire Zombies...From Space!
Vampire Zombies...From Space! is such a great title, how could I not give it a watch?
It opens with a black-and-white scene from what feels like the very dawn of cinematic absurdity, where a dog runs into a tobacco field, as a family follows and discovers something no one could predict - a vampire in a flying saucer.
The mother is killed almost immediately, in a torrent of blood that is hilarious in its over-the-top presentation, while the rest of the family survives thanks to a crucifix, which, as far as plot devices go, is both convenient and ridiculous.
Ten years pass, and the family is now the subject of ridicule in their town, as the movie slows down from the opening scene, and soon enough, zombies arrive, sent by Dracula - yes, the Dracula - to wreak havoc.
Vampire Zombies...From Space! combines the aesthetic of 1950s cinema with a sort of modern sensibility that doesn’t always match, but it felt like a little wink from the filmmakers, as if there’s a kind of joy in being that obvious, that playful with your audience.
The comedy itself is also a strange mix, as there are moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud - and you would obviously tell from the title alone that it is not trying to be serious - but some running gags overstayed their welcome a bit too.
It's also quite clear someone involved loves the genres they’re spoofing - the costumes, the props, the little visual gags - they’re all carefully chosen, with small touches that reward anyone paying attention, and there’s definitely a level of care in those moments that suggests affection for the material, even as the story itself careens into chaos.
The story doesn’t move as much as you expect it to either, where the dialogue often feels clumsy, but you need to focus less on plot coherence and more on the sheer absurdity of what was happening - like a series of sketches stitched together than a traditional story.
The best thing about Vampire Zombies...From Space! is how over-the-top it is, which is exactly what you want from this kind of film, with a kind of manic energy that almost dares you not to enjoy it, and there’s a point where you just stop questioning it and start watching for the next thing that will make you laugh or shake your head.
But the humor and narrative live in a very narrow lane, and once the novelty wears off, you notice the repetition and the thinness of the dialogue. but there’s a strange satisfaction in watching something so gleefully committed to a small idea, even when that idea begins to wear out.
I found enough to enjoy out of the experience though, and I didn’t expect subtlety, and it delivers none.
Vampire Zombies From Space! is just a strange experience, much like a recent film I watched called Chainsaws Were Singing, and any issues it has are almost beside the point, as the film exists in its own world and asks you to play along.
The film features appearances by cult and horror icons including Judith O'Dea, Barbara from George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead, Troma's Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger), Simon Reynolds (SAW IV) and David Liebe Hart the eccentric puppeteer of Tim & Eric fame.
*Vampire Zombies From Space! released in festivals in 2024 and 2025, but didn't get a wide release until 2026.