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{★} Classic Creature Features…Or Not! * Posted by Cherri Bombe {★} on June 5, 2011
By looking at these posters, you would think they were some of those old-school B horror movies, right? Wrong! These were all made within the last five years by Minnesota-based Christopher R. Mihm, who says that he makes “new ‘old’ films.” On his website, www.sainteuphoria.com, Mr. Mihm says of classic B-movies: “I enjoyed their often poorly written dialogue, sometimes (but not always!) wooden acting, stilted camera work and marginal special effects. It was during one of these marathon movie-watching sessions I had an epiphany: “What would happen if I stopped thinking about it and actually made a movie? And not just ANY movie but THIS kind of movie, one that a ten year old version of my dad would approve of?” His latest is See the trailer here: All his DVD’s are $9.99 + $2.50 shipping and can be purchased here: http://www.sainteuphoria.com/merch.html#dvds Next payday, I’m soooooo going to pick up a couple of these! Yay for cheesy horror movie re-creations!
My friends and Petlitzer Prize colleagues, Robert and Michelle Forto, traveled from far and wide to share the singular experience that is a Christopher R. Mihm movie premiere. Read what Robert had to say about the gala event.—Sid
Attack of the Moon Zombies World Premiere!
May 31, 2011
All of us like good entertainment. But would you fly 3000 miles and have your wife drive 15 hours and almost 1000 miles to meet you for a secret rendezvous in the Twin Cities just to go to a movie?
We did.
To be fair it was part of a meeting with an editor friend for a book project that I am working on and a road trip to Deadwood, South Dakota and then home to Denver for a couple weeks before I head back to Alaska.
The movie was the world premiere of Christopher R. Mihm’s Attack of the Moon Zombies!
Moon Zombies premiered at the Heights theater in Columbia Heights, MN. The Heights is one of those cool old school-type theaters that our great country is losing at alarming rate, giving way to I-Max, 3-D and twenty screen stadium seating multiplexes. What a shame.
There was a line around the block waiting to get into the sold out performance and even included reporters Bob and Rob asking us what we were wearing and asking goofy questions. They weren’t Joan and Melissa Rivers but close…
Before the show Dr. Ivan Cryptosis emceed introducing the film and the man behind the madness, Christopher R. Mihm.
[Listen to Attack of the Moon Zombies Interview on Dog Works Radio]
The movie was everything that we would expect from Mihm. True to form bringing back some of his characters from previous films and that quirky 50s drive-in horror/sci-fi style that kept the sold out audience on the edge of their seats.
Moon Zombie’s peppered humor with some serious acting from Sid Korpi (Administrator Ripley), Mike Cook as Dr. Vincent Edwards and the fan favorite, Michael Kaiser as Glen Hayes.
What would a 50s-style B-Movie be without a damsel in distress? Of course Moon Zombies covers this with a brilliant performance my Shannon McDonough and her screams!
Of course we have to have a monster. In Moon Zombies we have plenty of cabbage-headed zombies lurking around that scoop up their victims as quick as you can toss a salad. With Mihm’s trademark bug eye’s the monsters paid a great homage to those creatures from the films of yesteryear. While the effects are cheesy and low budget (they are supposed to be) they work!
After the film they gave out schwag and a meet and greet with the stars and a reception followed with cupcakes and an ultra-cool Moon Zombie’s themed cake that would give Food Network’s Ace of Cake’s a run for their money.
Even though I was going on 24 hours without sleep at the time of the movie I would have to say that this movie kept my attention and was some of Mihm’s best work.
This type of filmmaking is what the world needs these days. It is just plain fun. Fun for the whole family in fact. Yes, the effects are corny and the million dollar sets and CGI of today’s big budget features are in a far off land, but that doesn’t discourage Mihm. Moon Zombie’s was filmed almost entirely in Mihm’s basement.
The Mihmiverse is deliberate and out of this world. You have to check this guy out. You can buy all of his work on his website for less than 10 bucks a piece. Few independent filmmakers have put out a movie a year like Mihm has since his first effort in 2006 with The Monster from Phantom Lake. I would venture to guess that few have been as successful as Mihm in his passion and it shows.
Info 101: at the movies 99: Attack of the Moon Zombies premiere!
- May 27th, 2011 9:42 pm CT
Darrell Moen
- Minneapolis Movies Examiner
Greetings local film lovers! Welcome to the Mihm-iverse that is uniquely Christopher R. Mihm’s world. Please subscribe to the various pages to keep up with the local film scene. Thank you!
“ATTACK OF THE MOON ZOMBIES” PREMIERE at the Heights Theater.
The premiere of Christopher R. Mihm’s newest film “Attack of the Moon Zombie’s” was promoted on this page as a major event. A never-before-seen film. Members of the cast in attendance. Collectible merchandise for sale. A moon zombie available for photographs. Real red carpet sort of stuff a la Hollywood in the Midwest. While seated off to the side instead of the usual choice of fourth row center, one was afforded a chance to study the audience during the film. To gauge the response to onscreen events. To see if everyone was enjoying it just as much. The really interesting part of that perspective was the face of the7-8-year-old girl seated behind and to the left who was enjoying the presentation as much as or more than eveyone else.
It’s uncertain whether or not she got all the double-entendre contained in the cleverly-crafted dialogue. It’s a dead cert she hasn’t seen all the movies referenced in the story-line. What’s important is that look of unadulterated appreciation for a well-made source of entertainment that she witnessed along with a mostly adult audience.
There was much to appreciate in this, Mihm’s sixth film. Once again, Mihm stayed faithful to his premise-making a cheesy film with no onscreen violence, no swearing with a “Star Wars” reference or two and a cameo appearance. That word ‘cheesy’ is his own as in his statement, “I love to make cheesy films for the sake of knowing exactly what they are with no pretense”. The thing is these films are so much more than that to an audience that has been bombarded with high-tech, overly-graphic, 3D-infested assaults on the senses. In short, these ‘cheesy’ films are a welcome antithesis to all that, confined to the basics of filmmaking. Story, acting, directing, special effects and music.
This cast included some brilliant performers who got the point and played it to the hilt. Shannon McDonough gives a nearly flawless if somewhat subdued interpretation of a botanist on a scientific expedition that is beleagured by a lunar plant that blows spores in the faces of its victims, turning them into hideous zombies. She is one of several personnel under the supervision of Administrator Ripley, played expertly by Sid Korpi. Ms. Korpi’s command of the lengthy but pointedly satirical dialogue was eloquent and hilarious.
One side-story revolved around the retirement of one of the base’s doctors played by Mike Cook. Cook’s performance was also subdued which made it that much more poignant. His soon-to-be replacement’s presence enhanced Cook’s always strong presence.
As various charcters are zombified, the situational comi-drama takes center stage. The movie references and double-entendre flow freely and Ms. McDonough’s personna shines based on the strength of her boyfriend and would-be husband played by Douglas Sidney. The second main sub-story, his various failed attempts to pop the question, is itself a hilarious take-off of sevral films and sitcoms. Sidney’s less-than-subtle mugging for the camera only helps his delivery. It would’ve been great to watch the rehearsal sessions to see how long it took these actors to keep a straight face while delivering these lines. It’s that sort of small thing that elevates films like this above ‘cheesy’.
As susual, that’s all you get for free. It’s not a critic’s job to tell you the story. Chris set up his website (www.sainteuphoria.com) to make it easier to add all six films to your collection. They’re all locally-made with local actors who take pride in their talents. Cheesy or not, it’s ultra-cool to be able to share a film experience that everyone can enjoy.
Which brings it all back to the 7-8 year old. She wasn’t all that impressed with all the hoopla or the moon zombie in person. When asked by her mother if she wanted a photo taken with the moon zombie, the young lady responded, “Can I kick him?” Her mother denied this request quite firmly to which the now long-faced young lady said, “Then forget it. If I can’t kick him, I’m not going.” So much for hoopla but a very lucky moon zombie’s shins are intact as they should be given the director’s assurance that none were injured during filming.
Ms. Korpi’s interview can be found in at the movies #76; Mr. Mihm’s in at the movies #78; Ms. McDonough’s in at the movies #91. Stay tuned for more interviews and follow-ups now that this film is available. It’s that good, folks.
As always, seeya at the movies…
Voyage #6 into the Mihm-iverse: Attack of the Moon Zombies!
Credits:
Partial poster from http://www.sainteuphoria.com website, used by permission of Christopher R. Mihm.
Rating for Attack of the Moon Zombies:
By Darrell Moen
Minneapolis Movies ExaminerContinue reading on Examiner.com Info 101: at the movies 99: Attack of the Moon Zombies premiere! – Minneapolis Movies | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/movies-in-minneapolis/info-101-at-the-movies-99-attack-of-the-moon-zombies-premiere-review#ixzz1NcFPNE9t
Hey everyone,
I know I’ve been shamelessly promoting this B-movie my hubby, Anthony, and I are in (by famed local writer/director Christopher R. Mihm), but I have HUGE NEWS to report. Today, as a birthday gift to Anthony, Chris Mihm invited us to his and his wife Stephanie’s home to watch the newly completed “Attack of the Moon Zombies” movie!!!!! (The end credits haven’t even been added yet…that’s how “hot off the presses” it is!)
Anthony hams it up with the Mihm clan at a Dad's Belgian Waffle breakfast
Most everyone else has to wait until the official premiere on May 25th at the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights, MN, so we’re feeling pretty special!
I have to report—and this is not just hype or obligation talking—this is Mr. Mihm’s BEST MOVIE YET!! And that’s saying a LOT since I deeply LOVE his other five flicks (“Monster of Phantom Lake,.” “It Came From Another World,” “Cave Women on Mars,” “Terror From Beneath the Earth,” and “Destination: Outer Space.”) And, I’m also not saying this because we’re in it. Actually, that’s the hardest part for me and would normally render me mute on the subject altogether; seeing myself on the screen and shutting up the brutal inner critic is tough. But stepping back and just looking at this movie for being true to its ’50s drive-in-creature-feature heritage, as well as its pacing, humor, themes, performances, direction, special effects (i.e. zombies by Mitch Gonzales) and emotional punch—yes, I said emotional punch—this movie is absolutely top notch.
I know I could go on a talk show circuit and not be having to lie my way through a plug of the movie. Quite seriously speaking, I couldn’t be prouder of having been a part of something creative than I am of my role as Administrator Ripley (thanks again to Stephanie Mihm for recommending me for the role, which she could have had herself) and part of a wonderful ensemble cast including, but not limited to Mike Cook, Shannon McDonough, Doug Sidney, Dan Sjerven, Mark Haider, Bob Arndt, and many, many other talented folks.
If you love old B&W monster/sci fi movies from the ’50s, you simply MUST SEE “Attack of the Moon Zombies.” Contact Christopher R. Mihm at www.sainteuphoria.com for tickets to the premiere or to preorder your copy of the DVD. You’ll thank me for it!!—Sid
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