Nostalgia Kinky

A gory and witty horror comedy from Canada, VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! is an endearing black and white tribute to filmmakers like Ed Wood and Mel Brooks and films like PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE and SPACEBALLS. Shot in the Windsor/Essex area of Ontario with local actors and hundreds of extras from the community, the partially Kickstarter funded VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! makes the most of its low-budget throughout via its endearing practical effects and especially great retro miniature work.

VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! has a backstory that’s almost as entertaining as the film. Originally designed as a micro-budget high school production back in 2010 by screenwriter and then student Jakob Skrzypa, the project went through as many lives as the vampires in the script before finally emerging last year via a number of celebrated film festival appearances.

Directed by Michael Stasko, VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! wears all of its influences on its sleeve, with everything from fifties greaser flicks to Tobe Hooper’s LIFEFORCE getting nods. Of course, one studio that looms large over VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! is Troma, so it is fitting to see Lloyd Kaufman hilariously appearing as the town’s public masturbator. That’s good stuff. Not all of the humor in VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! lands but when it does it hits hard. The reoccurring gag about the town Mayor’s popularity with kids is particularly outrageous and hilarious.

On a technical level for a film of this budget and scale, VAMPIRES ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! is mostly very well done. I personally wish the film had avoided any digital effects at all and the stringed bat joke (literally) doesn’t fly but minor quibbles aside I greatly appreciated the spirit and all of the obvious hard work that went into this. Plus, there is also a lot of love here for the films the production is paying homage to and lampooning.

VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! is getting a super affordable Blu-ray release from Cleopatra Records next month. The disc contains an audio commentary, deleted scenes, interviews and more. I’m pleased the film is getting a physical media release and I’m tempted to get one of the exclusive slipcovers, listed at the film’s very fun website, that has been signed by a few of the great local cast-members.

VAMPIRE ZOMBIES…FROM SPACE! is the kind of local film production that I hope starts popping up more in communities. I’m much more eager to forgive the minor faults that are inherent to low-budget independent productions rather than give props to studio-backed ‘films’ that cost hundreds of millions of dollars. How cool would it be to work on a local film production and then get to go see a sold-out screening of it with your family and friends? That should be happening everywhere.

We have the technology and power.

-Jeremy Richey, December 2025-