‘The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra’ is a parody that will tickle your funny bone
“The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra” (2001) is likely a film you may not have heard about. Written, directed by and starring Larry Blamire on a budget of $40,000, this parody of 1950s horror and sci-fi films might seem like one to pass up on, but once you see it, you’ll agree there’s no other film quite like it.
The story focuses on Dr. Paul Armstrong and his wife, Betty, as the two venture out into the woods one evening. Paul’s mission is to find a rare element he senses is nearby known as atmosphereum, with hopes of using it to advance the fields of science. However, things begin to get out of hand when a pair of aliens (who look oddly like regular people) crash into the middle of the woods and must obtain the atmosphereum to refuel their ship. They also must find their deadly pet mutant that has escaped during the crash. On top of that, a mad scientist named Dr. Roger Fleming has also caught whiff of the atmosphereum and plans to use it to bring to life a legendary (and rather sarcastic) skeleton rumored to live in a nearby cave. From there, things only get weirder as we witness betrayals, friendships and plenty and plenty of bad acting.
Written in a matter of five days and filmed in about 10, the production values are obvious. The minimal use of sets, the crummy acting, the repetitive dialogue, the awkward editing and cinematography, and the ridiculous effects (there are several moments when you clearly see the strings holding up the skeleton and even the hands holding the strings) are just some of the reasons why “The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra” is so great.
The film is clearly influenced by the worst sci-fi films from the 1950s including such schlocks as “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” “Bride of the Monster,” “Robot Monster,” and “Frankenstein vs. The Space Monsters.” It is clear that everyone making this film was having a ton of fun and that fun is felt throughout the entire film. The love and craft put into this to make it feel like a B-movie of the time is so well done that, at first glance, it could easily be mistaken as an actual film from that time period.
However, unlike most parody movies that lack any identity and make obvious references to the films they are parodying, “The Lost Skeleton” definitely stands out on its own. Rather than directly parodying a certain film, the movie attempts to create its own identity with its story and characters while using old B-movies as an influence on the tone only, which works remarkably well.
The innocent nature of the film is so enjoyable that it is almost impossible to find any real flaws with it. Its intent of being goofy, campy and cheesy is so well-realized that almost any flaw would seem to enhance the experience even more. If there was anything to really attack this film on, the third act does drag a little bit and some of the humor at that point gets a tad bit repetitive. However, that’s stretching it.
All in all, “The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra” is almost as good as any parody by Mel Brooks. By building its own atmosphere, situations and characters while lovingly paying homage to B-movies of the 1950s, it is a comedy guaranteed to entertain. While those not too accustomed to movies of this kind may not quite get the appeal, those who are suckers for bad movies will enjoy it. This is the ultimate tribute to B-movies that is sure to tickle your funny bone this Halloween.
