Hercules Against the Moon Men Movie Review

This is one of the more visually striking of the ‘50s Hercules movies. Actually, the hero was called Maciste in his native Italy, but American audiences didn't care; they just wanted more sword-and-sandal epicry, and boy, did they get it here! The big guy is summoned to an isolated kingdom in the shadow of the Mountain of Death, wherein live a race of beings from the moon, brought to Earth by a prehistoric meteorite. The moon-men themselves are groovy-looking humanoids made of jagged rock and led by an really tall guy with an impressive metallic skull-mask. They promise the kingdom's evil queen immortality in return for a human sacrifice every year. Young lovers are separated, oppressed peasants plot revolution, and time is drawing near to revive the moon-men's dead queen Selena! Can Herc triumph?? Not even fun to make fun of (although those wacky folks at Mystery Science Theater gave it their best shot), it's really just kind of painful to watch. AKA: Maciste la Regina di Samar.

1965 88m/C IT FR Alan Steel, Jany Clair, Anna Maria Polani, Nando Tamberlani; D: Giacomo Gentilomo; W: Arpad De Riso, Nino Scolaro, Angelo Sangarmano, Giacomo Gentilomo. VHS, Beta SNC, MRV