Bride of the Monster
(aka Bride of the Atom)

Ed Wood Jr. (1956, USA)

Cast: Bela Lugosi, Tor Johnson, Tony McCoy, Loretta King

Plot:
Dr. Varnoff, a mad scientist, conducts experiments on (unvoluntary) patients with atomic rays to try and make a race of superbeings to control the world (or something like that). His Mansion is protected by a deadly octopuss and Lobo, a giant (professional wrestler) helper mistaken for a monster by the local inhabitants. So far his attemps only resulted in the death of his patients. A local lady newsreporter investigates the mysterious vanishing of many people ends up captive of the doctor. When he decides to experiment on her, Lobo (who's in love with the reporter) turns against him and serves the doctor his own medecine. Only then, the experiments succeed and Dr. Varnoff now has the power of a superbeing!

Appreciation: 8/10
Perhaps not as totally ridiculous as the unavoidable Plan 9, it still has plenty of unintentionally funny stuff. At least, unlike Orgy of the dead, this one is highly enjoyable. When the most effective special effect of a movie is the men's screaming, you know you're in for a treat. Lets see what we have: uber-faked octopuss, cheap cardboard sets, over-acting by a professional wrestler, the obligatory second hand stock footage, nonsensical experiments with atomic rays, and last but not least, Bela Lugosi. I just love this actor. I mean, whatever role he's in, he always has a great presence and gives a big boost to the likeability of the movie. And fortunately, here he is given a decent role to play with, and he admirably carries the movie on his aging shoulders. And (believe it or not) there's actually a story here!
The ending is totally out of the roof (or should i say skyrocketting?) in terms of wackiness, and if you don't have a good laugh in the last few minutes, you need to get a sense of humor :)
In fact, this movie put a big smile on my face, and still does whenever i think about it.

Other suggestions: Plan 9 From outer space, Atom age vampire