Nerdly » ‘Planet of the Vampires’ Blu-ray Review

13th Nov2024

‘Planet of the Vampires’ Blu-ray Review

by Phil Wheat

Stars: Barry Sullivan, Norma Bengell, Ivan Rassimov, Ángel Aranda, Evi Marandi, Franco Andrei, Federico Boido, Mario Morales | Written by Ib Melchior, Alberto Bevilacqua, Callisto Cosulich, Mario Bava, Antonio Roman, Rafael J. Salvia | Directed by Mario Bava

Mario Bava, often celebrated as a master of Gothic horror and Italian genre cinema, brought to life a diverse array of films that showcased his visual ingenuity and flair for mood and atmosphere. Planet of the Vampires, a standout entry in the realm of science fiction horror, epitomizes Bava’s commitment to stylistic audacity and thematic exploration. This review examines how this film fits into and enriches Bava’s oeuvre, highlighting the characteristics that align with his broader body of work.

Bava’s films are renowned for their distinctive visual style, characterized by deep chiaroscuro lighting, saturated colour palettes, and intricate set designs. Planet of the Vampires is no exception, showcasing these traits within the context of a futuristic, extraterrestrial setting. Filmed on a modest budget, Bava’s exceptional ability to transform limited resources into immersive worlds is evident in the film’s sets, which are shrouded in fog, angular shadows, and luminous colours. The stark use of reds, blues, and yellows injects a surreal, almost dreamlike quality, reminiscent of the Gothic horrors he perfected in Black Sunday (1960) and The Whip and the Body (1963).

The visual richness in Planet of the Vampires not only reinforces Bava’s reputation as a master of atmosphere but also predates and likely influenced later sci-fi classics. His ability to evoke terror and wonder through minimalistic yet effective visuals places this film in direct conversation with his earlier work, where mood often transcends narrative complexity.

Themes of isolation, fear of the unknown, and humanity’s vulnerability are central to Bava’s storytelling. Planet of the Vampires takes these themes to a cosmic scale, exploring the fragility of the human psyche when confronted with otherworldly, malevolent forces. The film follows the crew of two spaceships that land on a desolate planet, only to be possessed by disembodied, vampiric entities. The resulting tension between trust and betrayal reflects the psychological horror seen in Bava’s Kill, Baby, Kill (1966) and Black Sabbath (1963).

These existential undertones, infused with paranoia and dread, align with Bava’s preoccupation with the supernatural and human susceptibility to forces beyond comprehension. The portrayal of crew members succumbing to unseen horrors taps into the director’s fascination with inner demons, a theme he masterfully wove into many of his works.

Planet of the Vampires merges science fiction with Gothic horror, drawing on familiar tropes while infusing them with a uniquely eerie sensibility. The movie’s skeletal alien landscapes and resurrection of the dead evoke the haunted house narratives of earlier horror cinema but are transplanted onto an alien world, echoing Bava’s penchant for taking traditional forms and turning them on their head. This genre fusion was a hallmark of Bava’s work, evident in Hercules in the Haunted World (1961), which combined sword-and-sandal adventure with supernatural elements. The film’s inventive premise and execution underscore Bava’s role as a pioneer in genre filmmaking, capable of pushing the boundaries of expectation while honouring the core motifs that define horror and sci-fi.

While Planet of the Vampires may not have been a commercial juggernaut at the time of release, its influence is palpable in later genre films. The film’s thematic blend of body horror and cosmic dread can be seen as a precursor to Ridley Scott’s Alien and John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982). Its minimalist yet evocative approach has also inspired contemporary directors who draw upon classic visual storytelling techniques without the crutch of CGI.

In the broader context of Bava’s oeuvre, Planet of the Vampires stands as a testament to his innovation and adaptability. It captures the essence of his filmmaking philosophy: harnessing atmosphere, tension, and the uncanny to evoke fear and fascination. While it strays from the purely Gothic roots of Black Sunday, it retains the shadowy underpinnings and existential concerns that permeate his filmography.

For aficionados of Bava’s work, Planet of the Vampires is essential viewing—a reminder of his status as a visionary who consistently pushed the limits of cinematic storytelling, inviting audiences to confront the mysteries lurking beyond the veil of reality.

Special Features:

4K scan of the film from the original negative under the supervision of Lamberto Bava and carried out at Fotocinema in Rome in collaboration with CSC Cineteca Nazionale
High-Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the Italian (90 mins) and English (88 mins) versions of the film
Uncompressed mono audio
Archival audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark (2014)
A documentary feature which explores Planet of the Vampires, Mario Bava and the connection between gothic and science fiction. Co-directed by Dima Ballin and Kat Ellinger; featuring interviews with Guy Adams, Xavier Aldana Reyes, Alexandra Benedict, Johnny Mains and John Llewellyn Probert (2024)
Archival interview with Lamberto Bava
Super 8 Version – a reconstruction of the cut-down version distributed as Planet der Vampire (17 mins)
Joe Dante and Josh Olsen trailer commentaries – the filmmakers provide a short overview of the film (2013)
Trailers
Press and image gallery from the Tim Lucas / Alan Y. Upchurch collection
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
Limited edition booklet featuring the newly translated original story