Monster Movie Madness – a new way of meditation

So when it comes to movies that are fun yet frightening the list continues to grow in what may be considered as Creature Features. It is quite hard to distinguish the differences between what was once considered to be a B-movie and what is now a considered to be a big budget production company movie. In a time of not long ago in the 1950’s there was a craze of B-movies being turned out to feed the ever growing demand of the baby boomer generation and their need for sic-fi and horror movies at the theatre.

In that mass hysteria to feed the need, movies were being made with more of an idea than actual substance. Most of these movies made to do with the lack of a budget by allowing the movie goer to rely on some imagination which sometimes made the movie maybe more comedic than originally intended such as the case with legendary Ed Wood movies. However, in this day and age were we have CGI and big companies returning to the absurd giving the movie patron a new world to explore that may still read as a 40’s comic with new technology.

In this new wave we have had a new batch of entertaining movies like Zombeavers, Three-Headed Shark Attack, and the ever growing franchise known as Sharknado popping up left and right. Now obviously with titles like that we can see how that these movies might not be taken seriously.  If we were to stereotype we would expect it to be directed to only a small audience of pimple faced 11-16 year old boys. That is not the case however as blockbuster stars and A-list actors still continue to sign on. As most television and movies seem to be on repeat regurgitating scenario after scenario just with a different actor or a different setting movies like Sharknado bring something new to the screen. This has never been so apparent as it has been until now. As Sharknado alone is a multimillion dollar franchise.

Now with fans in all age groups and ethnicities that continues to grow daily.  Streaming services needing more movies have turned to back to the creatures. With this in mind we have asked Donna Thompson an artist and retired art educator from Santa Cruz, Ca who is also an avid Creature Feature Movie watcher a few questions on this wonderful cinematic revival of campy Sci-Fi horror movies which I would like to say is the new Monster Movie Madness.

Questions and Answers with Donna Thompson
interviewed by : Jeffery Page

1. In a world were we have tons movies available to be streamed at our fingertips, what makes you want to watch movies like Sharknado, Snakes on a plane or Three Headed Shark Attack in the first place?

I watched this films to totally check out.   Bizarre as that seems, sharknado and the other shark movies are like meditation,no mindful chatter going on while watching these senseless movies.

The name and creature draws me in.  Posters, not so much because I usually see these films on tv.

4 . What do you feel is the most important part to pulling off a successful movie like this? (example:Actors, Sets, Script, special effects etc.)

For the shark scenario, its definitely the special effects, the acting in those films are pretty cheesey as well as the script.  These last two elements make the films more fun (one exception is the Last Shark, the dialogue overlap was real bad).

For my favorite movies Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman, its the acting and makeup and sets.  I got into these ‘horror” films at about 12. They were soooo good….nothing like the fluffy shark movies. They had depth, you had somekind of connection with the main characters.

5 .  If you had 3 movies that could be recommended for the average person to dive in and be introduced to this kind of movie what would they be and why?

Jaws, Mothra, the creature from the black lagoon

next : Tremors, The thing,The fly

6 . What is the first creature you remember seeing in a theatre?

The Creature from the Black Lagoon…was a loooong time ago but I may have seen it wearing those old 3D glasses made of paper with one red and one green translucent lenses.

8 . What is your favorite Creature Feature of all time so far?

Would have to be one of two: Godzilla ( original) and King Kong (1933)

I’d like to thank Donna Thompson for taking the time to provide us with her thoughts and answers. This I hope helps some of you to take a brief look into the new world of Creature Features. Until next time have a great day and explore the world of make believe. Jeffery Page