B-Movie Gazette: KEVIN SPACEY IS FROM THE PLANET "K-PAX" (2001) - IS HE A MENTAL PATIENT OR IS HE REALLY AN ALIEN? JEFF BRIDGES HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHICH IN THIS FORGOTTEN SCI FI DRAMA

B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - WITHOUT WARNING (1980)

Greetings All - It would be cool to do a post one time called the ten most essential B-flicks, sort of a B-Movie 101 thing. If that ever happened I would have to include this sci-fi horror classic from Graydon Clark (Black Shampoo, Satan's Cheerleaders.) This one's a don't pass go and don't collect $200 folks, just see it, Or watch it again. I'm not even going to begin to explain the plot except you have these flying disc things that attach themselves to people, in this case campers on an outing and kill and feed on them. Eventually these discs are tied to an alien, a hungry alien. A forerunner to 1987's Predator sort to speak and with a flat-out goofy cast. Jack Palance and Martin Landau, say what? And looking drugged out I might add but the real surprise here is veteran character actor Larry Storch, from the '60's, a guy who knew 150 dialects and here he is in this as a boy scout leader lol. Also known as It Came Without Warning, this gem is streaming free now only on Plex. 2.75 stars/2.75

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

KEVIN SPACEY IS FROM THE PLANET "K-PAX" (2001) - IS HE A MENTAL PATIENT OR IS HE REALLY AN ALIEN? JEFF BRIDGES HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHICH IN THIS FORGOTTEN SCI FI DRAMA

Twenty years ago, way way back in the Blockbuster Video days there existed a movie called K-Pax which in due time was quickly forgotten about. I certainly remember those VHS covers adorning the video tape shelves. Had it not been for a great thing called Tubi, K-Pax probably would have remained mostly forgotten. Which is a bit of a shame as it's a pretty decent sci-fi mystery with an awesome story and a more than noteworthy performance from Spacey.

I actually think Bridges is a little miscast here as the doctor trying to treat our mysterious visitor but as we know, Bridges rarely, if ever, lets down. Funny enough, Spacey originally tried out for the doctor but landed the patient instead, Will Smith having been the original choice. A box office disappointment just missing recouping it's budget, a wide variety of mixed reviews exists on the film. I fall into the camp of thumbs up more than down.

I would have loved to seen this done by a Kubrick or a Scorcese as the story's statistical density is where it's strength lies and requires some broad strokes instead of short. All in all, a worthy addition to anyone's sci-fi library. Currently streaming on Tubi. 3.0 stars/5