The Flux Capacitor 2.1.07: Week 19 - Corman, Ferrara and the Digital Moviemaker

Posted by Owain J. Brimfield on 02.01.2008

The past, present and future of science fiction - this week we look at the seedy underworld of B-movies. Plus, all the latest from the world of SF.

Welcome to "The Flux Capacitor", the column that examines the past, present and future of the science fiction genre. I'm your host, Owain J. Brimfield, and each week I'll be taking a look at films, TV shows and a whole lot more that exemplify a particular theme within SF. We'll see how the sci-fi of yesteryear influenced what we see on our screens today, and take a look ahead to see what may be in store in the months and years to come. Later on I'll also discuss some of the latest SF news and see how it impacts on the genre. For now though, let's get the DeLorean on the road - this week's theme is:

B-movies

Oooh, it's a bit of an in-depth subject this week. Let me point out right here that there's no way this is going to be a comprehensive discussion of B-movies - the genre is by far too diverse and important to cinema to warrant a brief 1500-word column. Maybe it's something I'll go into one day, but all I'm going to do here is pinpoint two or three classic science fiction B-movies that are representative of the type of filmmaking we're talking about, and could at a stretch be seen as important in the large-scale version of cinema history. There's also a distinction to be made between the B-movie and even lower grade movies - obviously there's no objective scale to rank these things, but there's a reason why I'm not mentioning, say, Plan 9 from Outer Space or Zombie! Vs. Mardi Gras: such dross doesn't even qualify as a B-movie. There are some standards to be upheld, even if they are the standards of a polished turd.

Anyway, I was going to pick out The Blob as the best example of an SF B-movie from the past, but I remembered I'd already discussed it a few weeks back. So instead, we have this particular movie. Need some clues as to its B-movie credentials? Okay - it comes from the golden age of sci-fi B-movies (the 1950s), filmed in black and white, directed by schlock maestro Roger Corman (for those who don't know, the guy has produced and/or directed around 350 B-movies over the past fifty years and is a legendary figure in such filmic circles), produced at an absolutely minimal cost, featuring a deadly monster (named Beulah, incidentally) that looks like it was made for a dollar fifty from art surplus supplies and an actor who would go on to greater things (Lee van Cleef in this instance, most famous in Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly), has some fantastically ripe dialogue ("You want me to condone this reign of terror? To swear allegiance to this monstrous king of yours? To kill my own soul and all within reach?"), and perhaps most importantly to pop culture, has been mocked on Mystery Science Theater. It certainly ticks all the boxes for B-movie fame (or should that be infamy?) The movie? It Conquered the Woooooooorld! [spoken in the voice of the cryogenicist from Futurama] The story goes that a horrible alien from Venus intent on world domination has infiltrated the radio of a paranoid scientist, and uses its mind control powers to convince him to bring it to Earth, whereupon it wreaks havoc. The plot, naturally, is pretty much interchangeable with any other similarly-made film, but that's of no concern - It Conquered the World is a perfect example of a sci-fi B-movie from cinema's past, exemplifying all the traits that make a B-movie truly 'B' while remaining enjoyable for fans of sci-fi and high camp alike.

Naturally, although budgets have progressed substantially since the 1950s, B-movies are still being made and are still a thriving "underground", if you will, for aspiring filmmakers. But how has the B-league of science fiction cinema progressed since its golden times? Well my friends, look no further than Body Snatchers from the previous decade. Made at a cost of several million (as opposed to the previous movie's presumed several thousand) dollars, the movie was helmed by Abel Ferrara, a modern-day veteran of the B-movie scene, having written and directed several straight-to-video efforts (as well as, admittedly, the rather good Bad Lieutenant). It sticks true to its B-movie roots, featuring a low-key cast - yes, I'm including Forest Whitaker in that description, because he has some extremely shaky choices on his resumé (Battlefield Earth, anyone? Bloodsport?) - as well as the old SF narrative staple of humans being possessed by alien creatures. It's unashamedly similar in tone (whether intentional or not) to movies like The Blob et al.

The point I want to get across is that while B-movies may have advanced in scale and scope, they're still the dirty sibling of mainstream films. It's never been about the quality of the film itself (hell, Roger Ebert gave Body Snatchers a four-star review, and remember he only uses four stars), but rather the position of B-movies in the cinematic landscape. Regardless of their relativistic progress through the years, B-movies will always occupy the niche below the plateau of conventional and big budget cinema. It's something that's especially true of science fiction, which as a genre has always tended to contain a higher proportion of B-movies than you might find elsewhere - there will always be someone working at a low budget, with relatively cheap production values, willing and able to knock out an 80-minute thriller that will inevitably find itself deriving its grosses from DVD sales and rentals. It's true now, and no doubt it will prove true in the future.

Or will it? Shane Carruth's ultra-low-budget Primer (I'm contradicting myself now by discussing a film I've looked at in a previous column, but it's such a good example I'm sticking by it) was made for $7,000, a figure that's absolutely unheard of in a world where the average Hollywood release costs around $60 million. It's a B-movie in everything but name, with an unheard-of cast, extraordinarily cheap production values, and themes and ideas that don't tend to manifest themselves so much in mainstream releases. And yet, it pulls off the miraculous feat of competing ably with any big-budget SF release in terms of that all-important (and frustratingly ambiguous) "feel" it possesses. You never feel like you're watching Carruth's home movie, even though that's what you're essentially doing. Could B-movies be advancing in the digital age?

It certainly seems feasible, with the cost of digital home filmmaking having hit rock bottom in recent years - as YouTube evidences, it's easy for any numpty with a camera and Windows Movie Maker to knock up something approaching a film. So surely, by extrapolation, if any old idiot can do a half-arsed job an actually talented filmmaker must be able to do a decent job? Well, they can, and Carruth is just the tip of the iceberg that proves it. There are always going to be directors and producers with limited resources who want to get their movies made and seen by an audience, and in this crazy modern world that's just about possible for anyone who has the willpower. B-movies may finally overtake their A-list brethren in being the first to move fully into the digital age, and you can't help but think it would only be beneficial for the industry, even if it might spell the end of the shonkily-produced B-movie as we know and love it. As a conclusion (however tenuous), here's a quote from someone who knows B-movies firsthand - Abel Ferrara himself: "I know that watching films on computer is the future—it's a direct connection to the audience." Think about it.


Reactions and interactions

Posted by: X

"Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please do a feature on BSG. It is the best damn sci-fi show on TV today. (sorry all of you Torchwood/Dr. Who/SG:Atlantis/etc fans)

Great column again this week, but you should really think about writing a
column about The Time Bandits.

Now that's a sci-fi show with some CLASS!"

The level of support for Battlestar is pleasing, it's good to see that contemporary sci-fi shows can still hold a devoted fanbase. Unfortunately this means I'll have to shell out some more cash to catch up on the rest of the show in order to write about it...

I'm sure Time Bandits will get a mention at some point in the very near future, hint hint, nudge nudge, say no more.

Posted by: JLAJRC

"Sky Captain is steampunk? I never thought of that when I saw the film. I also like Sky Captain.

What about the movie "Brazil" as steampunk? If that isn't steampunk, then I have no idea what it is, even after reading your article on it. When I think of steampunk I think of floating castles/cities/etc in the sky basically, which quite of few of Miziyaki's anime's had."

I'd definitely say Sky Captain is steampunk, although it certainly shoots more for an attempt at being a classic pulp adventure-style sci-fi. Alternate 1930s history featuring airships docking with skyscrapers?

Definitely steampunk. Brazil I'd say would probably fit into the genre - unfortunately this is the problem when you get down to the nitty-gritty of genre classification, with endless discussions about what fits where. I think you're right though, Miyazaki probably best demonstrates the popular conception of steampunk. Not sure if I mentioned his Nausicaa but that's a decent example too.

Posted by: Cheryl

"Great column again... I think the death of an individual is only more compelling if we, through the course of the novel or movie, have become attached in some way to the character. Otherwise the threat of existence is far more compeling. You just earned huge points for referencing Adam Roberts, hes one of my favourite modern sci-fi authors...Can't wait for the BSG edition. How about an X Files one in the run up to the new movie? (am I the only one looking forward to it?)"

A fair point, and one I probably would have made if I'd have been writing something a bit lengthier. Adam Roberts is, agreed, a fantastic author, and I'd love to see a movie adaptation of Stone or maybe Polystom. I'm sure you're not the only one looking forward to a new X-Files, but the franchise has fallen off the map in recent years so it's understandable that the sequel isn't getting reams of publicity. I have quiet confidence in Chris Carter's abilities, though.


The Infosphere

Marvel has announced that they have reached a deal with the Writer's Guild of America that will put writers immediately back to work on the Marvel Studios development slate. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Marvel has some clout, don't they. Anything that helps bring about the end of the WGA [in]action is good news in my book, particularly if it means we get to see Edgar Wright's interpretation of Ant Man sooner.

Child actor Jimmy Bennett (Evan Almighty) has been cast as a young James T. Kirk in Star Trek.

Who he? This will be brilliant if the kid does a full-on Shatner impression, speech patterns and all. "Mother! I can't believe... you... SERVED me tomato soup... AGAIN!"

ABC Family has picked up the supernatural drama pilot The Middleman for a full series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The production schedule and launch date of the new series have yet to be determined because of the writers' strike. From writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost), the show stars Natalie Morales as a 20-something struggling artist recruited by a secret agency to fight comic-book-type villains. Matt Keeslar plays the title character, a superhero who serves as her guide. (courtesy of Sci Fi Wire)

A genuinely intriguing premise, although it'll no doubt be a little while before this hits our screens. It sounds in a similar vein to Chuck, but with a better pedigree than McG.

Brash Entertainment is developing a video game based on the upcoming Fox movie Space Chimps, Variety reported. Space Chimps follows the adventures of a mischievous circus chimp named Ham, voiced by Andy Samberg, who leads a mission into space to explore a mysterious new planet. The film is expected to wrap in February and is set for release on July 18. (courtesy of Sci Fi Wire)

How on God's green earth did I not know about this movie? This is seriously the greatest thing I've ever heard. Space Chimps! Haha! Fucking awesome! Seriously, the inclusion of a chimpanzee named Ham immediately boosts any movie into 3-star territory, regardless of its other merits. And a video game too! Brash Entertainment, with these digitized simians you are really spoiling us.


And finally…

As always, reader feedback and suggestions are welcome, I respond to everything so just drop me a line or leave a comment. You can also check out my column "The Wonder Years" over at 411 Games. Next week in "The Flux Capacitor" - the second of those special feature / "ten of the best" doohickeys. Until then - keep watching the skies.