It's an Obscure Sci-Friday!
Today we are resurrecting three of the more obscure pieces of Sci-Fi from years past.
This week’s Sci-Friday snuck up on me faster than Santa Claus did on Christmas Eve, but that's alright because today we're diving into utter obscurity with a list of Sci-Fi gems that might have slipped under your radar.
Before we embark on this journey into the realms of the strange, obscure, and downright peculiar, let's take a moment to appreciate the increasing number of authors joining in our weekly festivities.
Without further A-DOO here we go,
The list of Sci-Friday contributors seems to grow with each passing week and that’s a beautiful thing!
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
I stumbled upon this peculiar blend of 1960s Sci-Fi and Christmas, an unusual fusion that can only be described as Sci-Fi Christmas. It's a truly odd film that demands at least a single viewing.
The storyline unfolds on Mars, where the children are feeling bored and melancholic due to the absence of Christmas joy on their planet. In a bid to bring joy to the hearts of Martian kids, the leaders decide on an unconventional solution, they'll kidnap Santa Claus from Earth. Alongside two Earth children, Santa is whisked away to Mars, tasked with spreading Christmas cheer and gifts to the Martian youngsters.
The film brings together elements of holiday joy, Martian shenanigans, and a touch of humor as Santa endeavors to infuse the spirit of Christmas into the red planet. With its campy, low-budget allure, this movie has earned a cult classic status, especially within the realm of so-bad-it's-good holiday films.
It's a bizarre yet strangely delightful cinematic experience that shouldn't be missed, capturing the essence of Sci-Fi and Christmas in a very unique way.
Sssssss (1973)
Released in 1973, this movie hit the screens when I was a mere negative 10 years old, existing in the ethereal realm we all emerge from—or so goes my version of events. It wasn't until 1983 that my mother stumbled upon this film during its television broadcast, and it left her thoroughly terrified.
Nominated for the Best Science Fiction Film award of the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films in 1975, this film perfectly fuses together sci-fi and horror.
Dr. Carl Stoner, a herpetologist invites a young college student named David Blake to work with him. Unbeknownst to David, Dr. Stoner is conducting experiments to transform humans into snakes through a serum. As David becomes involved in the research, he starts to experience strange symptoms and transformations.
Dark City (1998)
For some inexplicable reason in the late 1990s, we loved this kind of creepy neo-noir film. When I watched this movie, it managed to creep me out more than anything else I had seen in my 15 years on this planet, it had a weird vibe, and I liked it.
A man named John Murdoch wakes up in a hotel room with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As he tries to unravel the mystery of his identity, he discovers that the city he is in is a surreal and ever-changing place, manipulated by a mysterious group of beings known as the Strangers.
These Strangers can alter reality, including people's memories, and they conduct experiments on the inhabitants of the city. John Murdoch becomes the key to their plans as he develops a unique ability to resist their manipulations. As he delves deeper into the secrets of the city, he uncovers a dark conspiracy that questions the nature of reality and the essence of humanity.
Dark City was pretty cool! Interesting premise for sure.
Those other 2 are very deep cuts!
Incredible trailers. Unfortunately I haven't seen any of these films, though Dark City is definitely something my dad would have showed me if he knew about it.