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Learn what’s happening in the Mihmiverse, namely, the filming of his latest B-movie, “The Giant Spider.”
Writer/director Christopher R. Mihm’s ’50s-style B-movie “Attack of the Moon Zombies” has been nominated for numerous Dead Letter Awards. Voting ends March 16, and winners will be announced on March 22 on the MailOrderZombie.com podcast.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Attack of the Moon Zombies by Christopher R. Mihm
PRLog (Press Release) – Mar 07, 2012 –
Minnesotan writer/director Christopher R. Mihm has a unique filmmaking niche. He makes only B&W, 1950s-drive-in-style creature features, or as he puts it, “I make good bad, new old movies.” Released in May 2011, his sixth film, “Attack of the Moon Zombies,” received universally positive reviews from those who appreciate this unusual genre. Recently, cult-movie site MailOrderZombie.com nominated “Attack of the Moon Zombies” for the second-highest number of categories of any other movie honored by their Dead Letter Awards.
Among the awards for which Mihm’s film is in the running are: 1) Best Zombie Movie, feature length; 2) Best Director of a Zombie Movie (Christopher R. Mihm); 3) Best Zombie (Michael Kaiser); 4) Best Actress in a Zombie Movie (both Sid Korpi as Administrator Ripley and Shannon McDonough as Dr. Stephanie Hackett received nods); and 5) Best One-Liner in a Zombie Movie: “I know I’d rather die in agonizing pain than become some weird meat puppet for those nasty little things out there, wouldn’t you?”
Fans of this monstrously memorable, family-friendly, super-cheesy flick are urged to visit the Dead Letter Award Ballot form at the Mail Order Zombie site (https://www.docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGl5Mzd3eVVFMm0zTVFQMXFhRy0wa3c6MA) to cast their votes for “Attack of the Moon Zombies” in all categories by the March 16 deadline. Winners will be announced on the 3/22/12 Mail Order Zombie #177 podcast at http://www.mailorderzombie.com.
Also up to popular vote to decide is the 10th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards, for which “Attack of the Moon Zombies” has been nominated as Best Independent Film (Category 8). Please visit http://www.rondoaward.com/rondo/rondos.html to vote for this fine ’50s movie and support independent cinema by March 31, 2012.
If you haven’t yet seen “Attack of the Moon Zombies” and want to check it out before you vote, order your copy from http://www.sainteuphoria.com today! While you’re on the site, why not purchase your tickets for the May 23, 2012 Heights Theatre premiere of Mihm’s seventh film, “House of Ghosts”? This show, a spooky homage to the 1950s-fright-film director William Castle (“The Tingler” and “House on Haunted Hill”) is selling out fast, so act soon.
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A specialist in re-creating B&W 1950s-drive-in-style creature features, writer/director Christopher R. Mihm’s latest two films, “Attack of the Moon Zombies” and “House of Ghosts,” are sure audience pleasers.
Attack of the Moon Zombies Review
REVIEW: Attack of the Moon Zombies
Attack of the Moon Zombies is the latest in a series of movies by writer/director Christopher R. Mihm that emulate the cheesy sci-fi b-movies of the 50s (other titles by Mihm include Cave Women on Mars and It Came from Another World!). Moon Zombies is the only one I’ve seen, so I can only speak for it, but everything in this movie tried to make it seem like a genuine 50s drive-in flick, from the soundtrack, to the haircuts, to the worn-out (but not overdone) black-and-white film look. There’s a real sense that Mihm is not trying to parody those films in any way, but trying to genuinely, lovingly make one.
Our story takes place entirely on a Lunar base that was established in 1976 (again, a 50s idea of the future). Silent and eccentric newbie Glen (played by Michael Kaiser) is coming aboard to replace retiring Dr. Vincent Edwards (Michael Cook). When showing the newcomer around, Dr. Edwards shows him a strange plant he found in a cave on the moon and they take it back to the base. The plant sprays some powder in a character’s face and the character dies (trying not to give anything away here), returning a few hours later as a strange plant-human hybrid out to get the humans — who, of course, themselves turn into moon zombies if they are indeed got. The rest of the movie is pretty much the characters running around the base, trying to avoid being zombie plant food.
Which isn’t to say the story doesn’t work or is boring. It may be a bit simple, but this is a 50s cheesy movie wannabe here. And it works. The acting is perfect and feels just like pre-method acting, which is to say, a lttle wooden and overdramatic (actress Shannon McDonough really shines in this aspect as Dr. Hackett). Like I said, I don’t know about the previous movies Mihm has done, but I would venture this one is his best, as you can tell this isn’t the crew’s first time attempting this kind of thing. It all gels nicely and nearly flawlessly. It’s entertaining in ways I didn’t expect, one being the comedy aspect. I laughed out loud numerous times, at self-conscious lines like “Yeah well, it sounds like the plot of some.. bad.. drive-in movie,” and especially at the subtitles. I watch all movies with subtitles on whenever possible just to be sure I don’t miss a line of dialogue or anything. Well, the subtitles for this movie were amusing as hell, with funny captions like >>rejection< < when a man is hitting on a girl and the girl slams her book in his face, and when a title card reads “Day 1” the humorously unnecessary subs read “The First Day.”
I was surprised at how much I laughed and was entertained by the film, especially since 50s sci-fi cheese doesn’t hold any kind of special place in my heart; I just think they’re bad movies, just like we have bad movies today, and I only watch the ones with zombies in them (believe me, I get my fill of bad movies that way). But this was so charming and so successful at its goal that the viewer can’t help but admire it. I have to knock off a point for the length — at 99 minutes, it could have been at least 85 — but I still give Attack of the Moon Zombies 7/10 plants. You can get it at http://www.sainteuphoria.com/aotmz.html for a reasonable $9.99.
Christopher R. Mihm’s “Attack of the Moon Zombies” is…”a definite ‘Must Buy,'” movie reviewer and host Darryl L. Pierce on “A Little Dead Podcast. 
episode-106-attack-of-moon-zombies-2011.html
We’re a ways into the broadcast, as host Darryl L. Pierce covers a lot of horror/sci-fi movie ground. Thanks for the auditory “thumbs up” review!
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From a reviewer at www.ZMDB.org!
Great Stuff
Attack of the Moon Zombies is a hilarious homage to the 1950s science fiction b movies and other types of films. There’s obvious nods to George Romero with calling the prodution company “All For George Productions.” The homages are also present in character names–Ripley from “Alien, “Ace” Frehley–rock group KISS, Dr. Huer, Rogers, Doering, Theopolis–Buck Rogers In The 25th Century. There’s also clear parallels to the Alien films with an evil corporation. This film was a great tribute. The costumes look very cheesy. It was perfect for 1950s movies. The acting was far from perfect, but that was deliberate and worked perfectly for the 1950s. I loved when the African-American guy says “I’m amazed I lived this long” and then promptly gets killed. It perfectly captured the tone of those old campy movies. Mihm certainly knows how to do those types of films well.
I give Attack of the Moon Zombies 8 out of 10.
by: Verhoskan
“Attack of the Moon Zombies” (2011) By Jason Coffman In 2006, Wisconsin-based filmmaker Christopher R. Mihm released his first feature film “The Monster of Phantom Lake.” A loving tribute to the 1950s creature features Mihm grew up watching with his father, Mihm’s first film established the blueprint for his subsequent oeuvre: low-budget black & white features shot on the cheap that aim not to ironically appropriate the look and feel of 1950s genre cinema, but to actually replicate that look and feel as an end in itself. Each of Mihm’s films— with titles such as “Cave Women on Mars” and “Terror from Beneath the Earth”— build on and add to an overarching mythology and world that has been earning his work a cult following of like-minded fans who grew up on and love the same b-movies that inspired him. Mihm’s latest film, “Attack of the Moon Zombies,” is no exception and may also be his most technically accomplished film yet. In the not-too-distant future on the Jackson Lunar Base, Dr. Vincent Edwards (Mike Cook) is on the eve of retirement. While training his young replacement, Glen Hayes (Michael Kaiser), the two men find a long-dormant plant hidden in a cave on the lunar surface. They return it to the laboratory of the Base Botanist Dr. Hackett (Shannon McDonough) and report the find to Base Administrator Ripley (Sid Korpi). Once removed from the lunar surface and its deadly radiation, the plant springs to life and the scientists learn the hard way that the plant’s spores cause paralysis and death in short order, followed by reanimation as a plant-like zombie! Soon the Moon Zombies have overrun the Base, constantly thwarting Dr. Collins’ (Douglas Sidney) attempts to propose to Dr. Hackett and resulting in the shutdown of radiation shields over two-thirds of the base. A small group of survivors must figure out a way to reach the shield controls and wipe out the Moon Zombies in time for the next supply ship to arrive and take them home. Too bad the base is absolutely crawling with monsters and time is running out— can our heroes save themselves and end the Moon Zombie threat? Shot in “era-appropriate black & white” on digital video, “Attack of the Moon Zombies” looks a bit sharper than Mihm’s other films, but that may be because it’s almost entirely shot on sterile interior sets. The Lunar Base is all white walls, plastic lawn chairs and automatic sliding doors, probably making lighting a bit easier and more consistent than in the outdoor locations that make up much of Mihm’s previous films. The cast is mostly made up of alumni from Mihm’s previous films (and includes his wife Stephanie), and the lo-fi sets, costumes and monster make-up all add to the film’s considerable charm. The Moon Zombies themselves are perfectly realized, looking exactly as cheap as they should (they appear to be masks and gloves) without being too goofy to generate some genuine tension. Mihm absolutely nails the tone and dialogue of his 50’s inspirations, and the game cast does a great job across the board. Aside from the crisp DV picture, the only tip-offs that the film isn’t from the same decade as “It Conquered the World” are the sly pop culture references (be sure to note all the characters’ names!) and the use of some simple CG animation early in the film instead of cardboard-tube space ships and Christmas-light stars. While “Attack of the Moon Zombies” may be most fun for “Mihmiverse” converts— it really does pay to watch all the films and pay careful attention— any fan of classic sci-fi and horror films will find a lot to like, and this is a great introduction to Mihm’s work. Learn more about “Attack of the Moon Zombies” and Christopher R. Mihm’s other films at his official website: www.sainteuphoria.com.
Jason Coffman is a film writer living in Chicago. He writes reviews for Film Monthly and “The Crown International Files” for Criticplanet.org as well as contributing to Fine Print Magazine (www.fineprintmag.net).
It’s here at last, your very own sneak peek at the splendid cheesiness that is writer/director Christopher R. Mihm‘s latest, greatest 1950s-drive-in-style B-movie creature feature, “Attack of the Moon Zombies.” Featured in the cast are, yours truly, Sid Korpi; Mike Cook; Shannon McDonough; Douglas Sidney; Mark Haider; Stephanie Mihm; Michael Kaiser; and Bob Arndt.
If your appetite for lunar lunacy and zombie-born destruction is sufficiently whetted, visit the “Attack of the Moon Zombies” site and order your tickets to the May 25, 2011, premiere to be held at the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights, MN.
BIG NEWS!!! I JUST LEARNED FROM THE DIRECTOR THAT THERE WILL BE NO GUARANTEE OF ANY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS SET ASIDE FOR THE NIGHT OF THE MOVIE’S PREMIERE, BUT YOU CAN BUY THE $5 GENERAL SEATS (WITHOUT THE COMMEMORATIVE COLLECTOR’S TICKET AND PIECE OF THE LUNAR BASE SET THAT GO FOR $10 APIECE). SO, TO BE SURE YOU’LL GET IN TO THE PREMIERE, YOU SERIOUSLY HAVE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME AT THE MIHM WEBSITE!!! I’M NOT KIDDING!
Order your advance tickets to the world premiere of Christopher R. Mihm’s “Attack of the Moon Zombies” (May 25, 2011 at the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights, MN) by clicking here. It’s the only way to guarantee you’ll get in on the big night because there are only a small number of general admission tickets that will be available at the door. That’s the voluptuous Shannon McDonough being carried by the monster, but that’s my name in the actors’ credits line! Woo hoo!
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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