My interest in psychotronic films is well
established. This peculiar category of film is described by Michael Weldon in The
Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film. These films are often treated with indifference or contempt by
cineasts. Some of the films are made with such impossibly low budgets that they have never
been released through regular channels of distribution. Many are now considered classics
or cult films despite their unfavourable critical response or box office failure.
Psychotronic films range from sincere social commentary to degrading trash. They concern
teenagers, rock 'n' roll, juvenile delinquents, monsters, aliens, killers, spies,
detectives, bikers, communists, drugs, natural catastrophes, atomic bombs, the prehistoric
past and the projected future. They star ex-models, ex-sport stars, would-be Marilyns,
future presidents (and first ladies), dead rock stars, and has-beens of all types. During his visit in Umeå 1988, Weldon presented an excellent selection of psychotronic films. Among them were Phil Tucker's masterpiece Robot Monster from 1953. Despite strong efforts, I have not come across a VHS (Pal-Secam) copy of it yet. If You know where to get it, please mail me. In the mean time, here is my collection of psychotronic cult films. |