Plan 9 from Outer Space Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Aliens try to stop Earth from inventing a universe-destroying bomb by resurrecting Bela Lugosi and Tor Johnson, but mostly they just wobble around in a graveyard.

🍿 Plan 9 from Outer Space: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Initial Encounters and Mysterious Deaths

The film opens with a narration by Criswell, setting a tone of impending doom and cosmic horror. Shortly after a funeral, strange events begin to unfold in a California cemetery. An old man mourns his wife, unaware that flying saucers have landed nearby. Two gravediggers are brutally murdered, their bodies left in a gruesome state. This coincides with pilot Jeff Trent’s sighting of a flying saucer, which he is sworn to secrecy about by the army. These early scenes establish the central mystery and hint at a larger, extraterrestrial plot.

Plan 9 Revealed: Resurrection of the Dead

The alien invaders, led by Eros and Tanna, reveal their plan to resurrect the dead. Their aim is not conquest but to prevent humanity from developing a weapon called ‘solaronite,’ which they believe will destroy the universe. They resurrect the old man’s deceased wife (Vampira), Inspector Clay (Tor Johnson), and the old man himself to create chaos and force humanity to listen. These reanimated corpses begin terrorizing the local area, causing panic and drawing the attention of the police and military. The aliens hope to use these acts to demonstrate their power and make Earthlings heed their warnings.

The Trents Caught in the Crossfire

Jeff Trent and his wife, Paula, become directly involved when Paula is attacked by the resurrected corpses. Jeff, still bound by his oath of secrecy, struggles to protect his wife and understand the strange events unfolding. Their home becomes a battleground as they are repeatedly targeted by the aliens and their undead minions. Paula’s ordeal underscores the vulnerability of ordinary people in the face of cosmic threats. Jeff’s conflict highlights the tension between duty to country and personal safety.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jeff Trent (Gregory Walcott): A commercial pilot who witnessed a flying saucer and becomes involved in the alien’s Plan 9.
• Eros (Dudley Manlove): An alien soldier implementing Plan 9 to stop humanity’s destructive potential.
• Tanna (Joanna Lee): Eros’s compatriot and fellow alien soldier, assisting in the execution of Plan 9.
• Inspector Daniel Clay (Tor Johnson): A police inspector resurrected as a zombie by the aliens to terrorize the living.
• Paula Trent (Mona McKinnon): Jeff’s wife who becomes a target of the resurrected corpses.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Criswell: “Greetings, my friend. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.” – The opening line sets the stage for Criswell’s narration about the unknown and unexplainable.
• Criswell: “Future events such as these will affect you in the future.” – Criswell’s famous line, repeated throughout, highlights the film’s nonsensical but earnest tone.
• Eros: “You’re all stupid! Stupid, stupid!” – Eros expresses his frustration at humanity’s closed-mindedness and refusal to listen to the aliens’ warnings.
• Lt. Harper: “The Inspector is dead, murdered! And somebody’s responsible!” – Said with utmost seriousness by Lt. Harper upon finding Inspector Clay’s corpse in the graveyard.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Plan 9 from Outer Space Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, ‘Plan 9’ isn’t exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but it’s undeniably entertaining. I found myself laughing at the wobbly flying saucers, the cardboard tombstones, and the incredibly wooden acting. It’s like watching a train wreck, you can’t look away! Honestly, it’s one of those movies that’s so bad, it’s actually good.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of cult classic films”
  • “Viewers who appreciate ‘so bad it’s good’ movies”
  • “Those interested in the work of Ed Wood”
  • “People looking for a laugh at cinematic absurdity”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild horror violence”
  • “Crude special effects”
  • “Generally low production quality which might be disturbing to some”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Laughably inept yet undeniably entertaining, Plan 9 from Outer Space earns its reputation as a quintessential ‘so bad it’s good’ cult classic. The film has a unique charm despite its obvious flaws.
• AllMovie: “Ed Wood’s notorious ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ earns its place as one of the most unintentionally hilarious movies of all time. The combination of atrocious acting, nonsensical dialogue, and hilariously cheap special effects is something to behold.
• IMDb: “Poor poor Plan 9: So bad people just watch it to laugh about how bad it is, yet this fundamental flaw pushes it above bad movies, and so it’s stuck in between the bottom 100, and well, no where near the top 250… Anyway, back to the movie. It is as bad as you’ve no doubt heard. The scene changes from night to day to night, the spaceship is a hubcap (you can see the string it hangs from catch on fire at one point), I could do a better job acting, etc. ad nauseam. But it takes a hell of a lot to be almost universally considered the worst movie of all time, and here is Plan 9’s true strength. There are many horrible of movies, but most of them are so bad because they are too bad to be truly bad, and therefore sink into mediocrity. Plan 9, however, has no redeeming quality’s, and so it stands out. Few will recognise a movie such as “The Medallion,” but every movie-goer knows Plan 9. As I said before, it takes a hell of a lot to be the worst. Because of this, Plan 9 is some of the most fun you’ll EVER have watching a movie. Almost every scene is so bad I broke out laughing. Few other movies achieve that kind of humor, whether intentional or not. For that I give it a very intentional 10/10.

Audience Reactions

The unintentional humor is off the charts, making it a perfect movie to watch with friends.: Viewers love the film’s campy nature and the constant barrage of filmmaking mistakes.

Bela Lugosi’s posthumous appearance, complete with a caped imposter, adds to the film’s bizarre charm.: The film’s historical significance as one of the ‘worst movies ever made’ makes it a must-see for film buffs.

Overall Consensus: A hilariously bad movie that’s become a cult classic for its sheer ineptitude and unintentional humor.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Footage of Bela Lugosi was shot by Ed Wood for another unfinished project shortly before Lugosi’s death and was incorporated into ‘Plan 9’.”
• “The actor who replaced Bela Lugosi was Ed Wood’s wife’s chiropractor, Tom Mason, who was much taller than Lugosi and bore little resemblance; he obscured his face with a cape in most scenes.”
• “The flying saucers were made from hubcaps and pie tins, and the strings used to suspend them are clearly visible in several shots.”
• “The tombstones in the graveyard scenes were made of cardboard and often wobbled or fell over during filming.”
• “Many of the actors improvised dialogue or actions, as Ed Wood rarely noticed or corrected their mistakes.”

🖥️ How to Watch Plan 9 from Outer Space?

Due to its age and public domain status, “Plan 9 from Outer Space” is widely available through various streaming services. You may find it on platforms like YouTube, Tubi, or Internet Archive. Check local listings for potential broadcasts or DVD/Blu-ray availability from retailers like Amazon. Always ensure you are streaming from a legitimate source.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Plan 9 from Outer Space, you might like these similar films:

• Robot Monster (1953): Another notoriously low-budget science fiction film with bizarre special effects and questionable acting, appealing to fans of ‘so bad it’s good’ cinema.
• Ed Wood (1994): Tim Burton’s biopic about Ed Wood provides context and appreciation for Wood’s unique approach to filmmaking, making it a companion piece to ‘Plan 9’.
• Mars Attacks! (1996): A modern, self-aware parody of 1950s science fiction films, embracing the campy style and absurd situations found in ‘Plan 9’.
• Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988): Combines sci-fi and horror with over-the-top effects and ridiculous scenarios, appealing to viewers who enjoy the bizarre and absurd.

🛒 Plan 9 from Outer Space Related Products

• Ed Wood (Blu-ray): Tim Burton’s affectionate biopic about Ed Wood, the director of Plan 9, starring Johnny Depp. A great companion piece that adds context and humor.
• Plan 9 From Outer Space (Colorized Edition): Experience the ‘classic’ in glorious, questionable color! See the pie-plate spaceships and cardboard sets like never before.
• Plan 9 From Outer Space T-Shirt: Show your love for the movie with a graphic tee featuring iconic imagery.
• Ed Wood: Nightmare of Ecstasy: Rudolph Grey’s biography of Ed Wood is a cult classic. Explore the strange life and work of Ed Wood Jr.

🎧 Soundtrack

Plan 9 from Outer Space features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Grip of the Law” – performed by Trevor Duncan

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Plan 9 from Outer Space – Hilariocity Review

Want to hear an honest take on why Plan 9 is considered so bad, yet so fascinating? Chris Stuckmann breaks it down with his signature wit – it’s a fun watch, even if you’re just curious about the ‘so bad it’s good’ phenomenon!

THE ORIGINAL BEST BAD MOVIE

Ever wondered why people call Plan 9 the “best bad movie”? This video dives deep into Ed Wood’s masterpiece of awfulness, explaining its bizarre charm. Trust me, you’ll be laughing and scratching your head at the same time!

1950s Sci-Fi Movies That Are Actually Still Worth Watching

Is Plan 9 really ‘worth’ watching? Find out as it’s ranked among other 1950s sci-fi flicks. It’s a fun comparison that might just convince you to give this ‘classic’ another shot (or maybe not!).

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