Zontar, the Thing from Venus

Zontar, the Thing from Venus (also known as Zontar: The Invader from Venus) is a 1967 American made-for-television horror science fiction film directed by Larry Buchanan and starring John Agar and Susan Bjurman. It is based on the teleplay by Hillman Taylor and Buchanan.[1] It is a low-budget 16 mm color remake of Roger Corman's It Conquered the World (1956), which also featured an alien invader from Venus.

Zontar, the Thing from Venus
DVD cover
GenreHorror
Sci-fi
Written byLou Rusoff
Larry Buchanan
Hillman Taylor
Directed byLarry Buchanan
StarringJohn Agar
Susan Bjurman
Anthony Huston
Patricia De Laney
Music byRonald Stein (uncredited)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
CinematographyRobert B. Alcott
Running time80 minutes
Production companyAzalea Pictures
Budget$22,000
Release
Original release
  • December 1967 (1967-12)

Plot

At a dinner party with their wives, NASA scientist Dr. Keith Ritchie (Anthony Huston) reveals to his colleague Dr. Curt Taylor (John Agar) that he has secretly been in communication with an alien from Venus named Zontar who he claims is coming to Earth to solve all of the world's problems. However, as soon as Zontar arrives on Earth via a fallen laser satellite it quickly becomes obvious that the three-eyed, bat-winged, skeletal black creature has a hidden agenda, as it begins causing local power outages that stop telephones, automobiles and even running water from working, and it starts taking control of people's minds using flying lobster-like "injecto-pods" that sprout from its wings. Only after his wife is killed does Ritchie finally realize that Zontar has come not as a savior but as a conqueror, and he goes to confront the hideous alien in the sulfur spring-heated cave that it has made its secret base.

Cast
  • John Agar as Dr. Curt Taylor
  • Susan Bjurman as Ann Taylor
  • Anthony Huston as Keith Ritchie
  • Patricia De Laney as Martha Ritchie
  • Neil Fletcher as Gen. Matt Young
  • Warren Hammack as John
  • Colleen Carr as Louise
  • Jeff Alexander as Rocket Scientist
  • Bill Thurman as Police Chief Brad Crenshaw
  • Andrew Traister as Sgt. Magalari
  • Jonathan Ledford as Gate Guard
  • George Edglley as Mr. Ledford
  • Carol Gilley as Alice
  • Bertha Holmes as Townswoman

Reception

In a review for AllMovie, Paul Gaita wrote "For experienced cult movie watchers, Zontar is the cinematic equivalent of a car accident, an unpleasant spectacle from which one cannot look away".[2]

Zontar, the Thing from Venus is arguably Buchanan's best known film.[3]

From 1981–1992 Zontar, the Magazine from Venus was published in Boston. It included an interview with Buchanan by Rev. Ivan Stang.

Creature Feature gave the movie one star, stating it was so inept that only fans of so bad it's good films would enjoy it.[4]

TV Guide states that while the movie is not good, it is not as bad as its reputation suggests.[5]

Zontar was famously spoofed by SCTV in the Season 4, Cycle 2, Episode 3 sequence "Zontar", originally broadcast October 30, 1981.[6]

See also

References
  1. Craig, Rob (2007). The Films of Larry Buchanan: A Critical Examination. McFarland & Company. pp. 96–109. ISBN 978-0786429820.
  2. Gaita, Paul. "Zontar, the Thing from Venus (1966)". AllMovie. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  3. Goodsell, Greg, "The Weird and Wacky World of Larry Buchanan", Filmfax, No. 38 April/May 1993 p 64
  4. Stanley, J. (2000) Creaure Feature: 3rd Edition. Berkley Boulevard
  5. "Zontar: The Thing from Venus".
  6. "Second City Television Guide". Retrieved October 27, 2020.
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