The Galactic Ghoul is one of those crazy fun films which recalls more than a few well known and lesser known screwball sci-fi epics. No, we’re not talking about Red Dwarf. Instead I believe this film is the love child of Lexx and MST3K and the individual grew up watching Spaceballs set on repeat! This work written and directed by Simon Harrisson is a laugh a minute, and honestly, I could not take it seriously even if I tried.
This film ranks right there in the same spectrum as 1000s of Beavers, even though the genres are different. Also, I must note Vincent Hoss-Desmarais helped write this work, and it wouldn’t be fair to not mention him too. They might have taken inspiration from Lost in Space too, and I say that with fondness when considering some of the costume and surreal designs that tained the later seasons.
And honestly, I like to know which one of the two is the Space Adventure Cobra fan! There’s some vibes from this anime as the film follows the misadventures of Oscar Bravo (Vincent Hoss-Desmarias), Lieutenant Foxtrot (also Hoss-Desmarias, for reasons made known later in the film) and Xenon (Michael Richard). For part of the story, they weren’t working together, but when they do, it seems they are better off as partners than rivals.
When both are wanting to gain Queen Xaltalusia XXIII’s (Katherine Isabelle) favour, they better be careful in what they want to reap! But she’s the bad guy, right? After managing to collect a mystic stone (basically, the last remnants of a destroyed world) to give to her, they go their separate ways. As Oscar wants to stay behind, he’s the brave idiot who becomes a consort of sorts. And that’s when things get kinky and weird.
Oscar learns about what life is like on this prison planet and although he’s a prince in own right, that’s when the fun begins. There’s a good story behind the camp and as a viewer, I can laugh all I want and approve of all the DIY effects at hand. And nobody should be surprised that he wants to escape the clutches of this woman and this world. While the latter half felt disjointed in his various attempts to leave, just what happens is rather obvious. Mind you at this time, I was laughing too much at the budget put behind creating all the muppets and sock puppets running around, chasing after him! It was because of that I lost track of the plot.
As for the performances, no one is going to win awards, and if a Razz is ever offered, I’m sure the cast and crew would accept it for simply being recognized! That’s because Vincent is over-the-top funny and promiscuous. He chews up the scenery like nothing, and I’m sure the direction included this directive: perform like we’re filming a live fringe theatre show. And Isabelle is all stoic in all the right places. The only question I have concerns how much of a screenplay was there? I’m sure some scenes were thought up on the fly rather than planned out. Even the improv shows when least expected.
After all the Film Masters restoration efforts of Roger Corman’s films I’ve viewed during the past year and half, I was primed for what this film represented. There’s nothing wrong with getting a strong dose of radiation while going to see this film, and had I been there (I got a screener), I’d be wearing a tin foil hat for sure! And by the way, there really is no member of the undead skulking about space.
4 Stars out of 5
The Galactic Ghoul Movie Trailer
