The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
A straight-faced scientist and his hapless allies confront aliens, mutants, and a cranky skeleton in a lovingly handmade spoof of vintage science fiction B movies.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- campy
- deadpan
- irreverent
- cult movie night
- retro sci fi night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film clever and faithful in its B-movie spoofing, while judging its deliberately sustained joke uneven over the full runtime.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film deliberately imitates the clunky aesthetics and pseudoscientific silliness of 1950s science fiction B movies.
Scientists, aliens, monsters, and a skeleton treat ridiculous threats and explanations with straight-faced seriousness.
Its scant resources and effects-driven presentation are used as part of the parody, including the film’s self-conscious 'Skeletorama' aesthetic.
The plot revolves around radioactive mutation, alien life, monsters, and an evil scientist presented through knowingly banal science fiction explanations.
Films like The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, and why
Plan 9 from Outer Space
retro science fiction parody, deliberately wooden performances, and affectionate low-budget genre imitation
Mars Attacks!
campy science fiction comedy built around absurd aliens, monsters, and knowingly artificial production design
Dark Star
deadpan genre spoofing, eccentric ensemble characters, and affection for vintage exploitation cinema
Movie Details
- Director
- Larry Blamire
- Release Date
- 2001-09-12
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (89)
Cast
- Fay Masterson
- Andrew Parks
- Susan McConnell
- Brian Howe
- Jennifer Blaire
- Dan Conroy
- Robert Deveau
- Darrin Reed
- Larry Blamire
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra about?
- A straight-faced scientist and his hapless allies confront aliens, mutants, and a cranky skeleton in a lovingly handmade spoof of vintage science fiction B movies.
- What is The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra as mild.
- What did critics think of The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra?
- Critics broadly found the film clever and faithful in its B-movie spoofing, while judging its deliberately sustained joke uneven over the full runtime.
- Which films are like The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra?
- Films with a similar feel include Plan 9 from Outer Space, Mars Attacks!, and Dark Star.
- How long is The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra?
- The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra?
- In United States, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra streams on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel.
