The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies
| The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Ray Dennis Steckler |
| Produced by | Ray Dennis Steckler |
| Screenplay by | Gene Pollock Robert Silliphant |
| Story by | E.M. Kevke |
| Starring | Cash Flagg Carolyn Brandt Brett O'Hara Atlas King Sharon Walsh Madison Clarke |
| Music by | André Brummer Libby Quinn |
| Cinematography | Joseph V. Mascelli |
| Edited by | Don Schneider |
| Distributed by | Fairway International Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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82 mins. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $38,000 |
The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (sometimes "!!?" is appended to the title) is a 1964 American monster movie written and directed by Ray Dennis Steckler. Steckler also starred in the film, billed under the pseudonym "Cash Flagg". Upon release, the film was widely panned and is regarded by some critics as being one of the worst movies ever made.
In the film, three friends visit a carnival and stumble into a group of occultists and disfigured monsters. Produced on a $38,000 budget, much of it takes place at The Pike amusement park in Long Beach, California, which resembles Brooklyn's Coney Island. The film was billed as the first "monster musical", beating out The Horror of Party Beach by a mere month in release date.
Free spirited Jerry (Steckler as "Flagg"), his girlfriend Angela (Sharon Walsh), and his buddy Harold (Atlas King) head out for a day a seaside carnival. In one venue, a dance number is performed by Marge (Carolyn Brandt), a superstitious alcoholic who drinks before and between shows, and her partner, Bill Ward, for a small audience. Backstage, Marge sees a black cat, and disturbed by its appearance, visits powerful carnival fortune-teller Estrella (Brett O'Hara) to find out what it means. In her fortune telling booth, Estrella predicts death for Marge, who runs out, terrifed, past Jerry, Angela, and Harold. The three decide to have their fortunes told. Estrella predicts "a death near water" for someone close to Angela.
After leaving Estrella's booth, Jerry sees Estrella's sister Carmelita (Erina Enyo), a stripper who hypnotizes him with her icy stare and he is compelled to see her act. Angela leaves the carnival, disgusted, with Harold in tow. After the show, Jerry is tricked backstage into Estrella's room with a note and she turns Jerry into a zombie by hypnotizing him with a spiraling wheel. Jerry then goes on a violent overnight rampage he will have no memory of, killing Marge and fatally wounding Bill. The next day, Jerry attempts to strangle his girlfriend Angela as well. It develops that Estrella, with her henchman Ortega (Jack Brady), has been turning carnival patrons into zombies by throwing acid into their faces, then imprisoning them in her fortune telling booth.
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Wikipedia