Roger Corman: MST3K

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 series reboot has features a pleasant amount of Corman productions, we'd be ashamed of ourselves if we didn't give them a nod for this theme!

Starcrash (released by New World Pictures, Roger Corman's production company): We've talked about the spectacle of this film before, and we were excited to see the riffing of it, but it's sadly one of the weaker of reboot episodes. The jokes aren't bad or anything, Starcrash just doesn't need a running commentary to be enjoyable. But if this film seems like it's too weird for you to sit through in it's entirety (or your friends aren't the sort to watch a movie of this caliber with you) this might be a pretty good option for you to experience all that is Starcrash!

Avalanche (produced by Corman and released by New World Pictures): Now, if I told you we were going to watch a movie called Avalanche you'd expect the movie would feature an avalanche and most of the movie would be about the drama during/after the avalanche right? Same. But that's what sets Avalanche apart from other disaster movies! They spend SO much of the movie building up to the titular avalanche that the actual event seems like an after thought. This is a movie that lends itself excellently to the MST3K formula, on it's own it would be a pretty big letdown.

Wizards of the Lost Kingdom (produced by Corman and released by Concorde Pictures (another Corman production company)): A humdrum kid's story featuring a boozed up hero, a boy magician and his strange furry companion team up to save their kingdom from an evil sorcerer. It's not my cup of tea on it's own, but that usually makes for the best MST3K episodes and this one is no different! They're pretty merciless in their riffing, and it's all well deserved.

Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II (produced by Corman and released by Concorde Pictures): A has-been wizard and his hapless apprentice are the only ones who can stop a power hungry band of villains from taking over a trio of kingdoms. This one features Sid Haig and Robert Jayne with the asinineness ramped up appropriately from the first installment. This might be the more enjoyable of the two though because the film is extremely dated, but also takes place in medieval times, and it's a pretty amazing balance to behold.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Squirm

MST3K has a special place in both our hearts, it's kind of hard to believe we've never mentioned them here. But, when discussing movies to write up for the eco-horror theme Squirm came up and I just can't imagine watching this movie without the MST3K guys riffing over top of it.

The episode: This is a "Syfy" channel episode so it features Mike and new Crow, with some Pearl, Bobo, and Brain Guy stuff throughout the episode (we always skim past those parts, we just don't have the love for those villains like we do Dr. Forester and TV's Frank). This episode also features our favorite short, Spring Fever. 

Spring Fever: This black & white short opens on a doughy man fixing a couch. We hear his wife on the phone telling his friends that he won't be coming out to play” because he needs to finish his chores. This is when he wishes he'd never see another spring as long as he lives, evoking the spring sprite Coily who promptly grants his wish. Two mins of life without springs is all doughboy needs to be convinced he was terribly wrong, and Coily agrees to set things right once again. This should be the end, but the sort continues for a good 5 mins more with doughboy boring his friends to near death with stories about how springs make the world go round as they play golf, drive home, and stand in a driveway talking about golf scores. There isn't a flat joke from the MST3K crew in the whole bit, and it's well worth worth tracking down this episode if for nothing else.

The plot of Squirm unfolds something like this: The sleepy low-country town of wherever is about to understand the amazing power of electricity. A downed power line near the local worm farm sends electricity deep into the soil, causing the worms on the farm to mutate. The town's teens are on the case, but the local sheriff won't listen to a word they say. Will they get through to him before the whole town is composted by worms?

Yes, the worms are eating people: The monsters in this movie are giant earthworms played by centipedes with slimy cables stunt worms. They have teeth and a veracious appetite for human flesh!

Reasons to watch: The ultimate illustration of "local sheriff ignores local teens" trope. Each accent that comes out of an actor's mouth is more amazing than the next (if your definition of amazing borderlines offensive). Some seriously impressive piles of worms (and by the end, impressive piles of baby-oiled cables being writhed by some slippery key grips). The nightmare ending as abruptly as it begins, and we really do mean abruptly. There's a few fantastic scenes with a spaced-out southern-hospitality-oozing mom. And finally, worms pushing a tree onto a house.

Reasons to watch the MST3K version: Likely some epically boring scenes have been removed to fit the time slot, making this version more of a highlight reel. There's a hilarious take down of the “shout someone's name over and over and over while searching for them” gag. The jokes are on point the whole episode through. If you haven't given the Si-Fi episodes of MST3K a chance, this is a pretty good place to start!

What we learned: If you're ever being attacked by giant earthworms, climb a tree and wait for day break. You're regional power company employee will surely be round to save the day!