, the fans! Every month, we choose a random Mihmivite and ask them a few Mihmiverse-related questions in an attempt to get to know them better and find out what they
think about the films of Christopher R. Mihm!
This month, we interview Mark Holmes!
Introduce yourself to the Mihmiverse!
My name is Mark Holmes. I grew up watching all types of sci fi and horror movies from the '50s, '60s and '70s and reading comic books and science fiction. After taking a short break to get married and raise a family, I got the writing bug and started writing comics for the AC Comics "
FemForce" title, the first and longest running team of all female superheroes. I have well over 30 stories printed under that title.
While visiting the editorial and publishing team for AC Comics down in Florida, I became friends with the imprint's creator, Bill Black. Alongside the AC Universe, Bill has made dozens of short films in the horror, sci fi and superhero genres. I offered to help with any future movie productions, and he has taken me up on that offer a couple of times! I also met and became online friends with a talented young filmmaker named Joshua Kennedy. We finally met in person when he started attending college in New York City. I have helped him with several of his movies, both behind and in front of the camera. With coaching and encouragement from both of those guys, I got the bug to make my own short films. With a "just-get-out-there-and-do-it!" mentality, I have produced several ultra-low-budget short films, including "
A Coffin for the Black Phantom" and "
Cyber-Ape vs. Hel-Bots," both of which are available for free on
YouTube!
When and how did you discover the films of Christopher R. Mihm?
While watching the trailer for one of Bill Black's productions on You Tube, (one I had helped with a little bit), someone in the comments said that this film reminded him of writer/director Christopher Mihm's moviemaking style. That was all I needed to encourage me to seek out the films of the Mihmiverse!
If you had to pick just ONE, which of the Mihmiverse films would be your favorite?
"
The Monster of Phantom Lake!" It was one was the first Mihmiverse film I've seen and it hit all the right notes and, as a result, it holds a very special place in my heart!
Tell us how you, in particular, show your "Mihmiverse pride!"
Alongside Bill Black and Joshua Kennedy, writer/director Christopher R. Mihm is part of my personal "trinity" of filmmakers! I talk up his productions to anyone who will listen. Someday I hope to meet him in person and shake his hand!
Where would you like to see the Mihmiverse go in the future?
I actually enjoy the direction of the Mihmiverse! Personally, I would like to see a comedy like the beach bovies of the early 1960s. Something like a broad comedy full of bikini girls, motorcycle gangs, some singing and dancing, maybe a beach monster and shot in color! I love and appreciate black & white movies, but a little color never hurt anyone!
Want to be interviewed for a future edition of the
Mihmiverse Fan Focus? Send an email to
info@sainteuphoria.com and let us know! Maybe next month the subject will be
YOU!
Ladies Fright!
Classic Sci-Fi in the 1950s featured a lot of movies about women. Some good, some bad. Below is a list of films, followed by a list of plot lines. Match 'em up! (Sort of like a cheesy version of Tinder...if Tinder were not cheesy enough...) Note: For more cheesy estrogen-related film fun, check out Michael J. Cross'
RETRO-SPECTIVE below!
1. "Prehistoric Women" (1950)
2. "Captive Women" (1952)
3. "Untamed Women" (1952)
4. "Mesa of Lost Women" (1953)
5. "Attack of the 50ft Woman" (1958)
6. "
The Wasp Woman" (1959)
A. After an encounter with a UFO, socialite Nancy Archer exacts revenge on her cheating husband.
B. Roger Corman directs this film about a cosmetic queen who tries to develop a youth serum. It does not go well.
C. A civilization of gorgeous women, abduct men for mating purposes. One of their victims impresses them with feats of derring-do and attempts to win the hand of the queen.
D. A mad scientist works to create a race of superwomen by injecting them with spider venom.
E. In a post-apocalyptic New York City, three tribes of mutants battle each other for survival.
F. Three survivors of a WWII plane crash wash up on the shore of an island where cavewomen, cavemen and dinosaurs rule supreme.
"Space, Rockets, Astronauts and Cave Women on Mars!"
Welcome back to
THE RETRO-SPECTIVE. Each month, I look back at some classic '50s and '60s sci-fi and horror films that provide the "backdrop" for the Mihmiverse. This month, we discuss films that deal with space travel, female aliens and the astronauts who fear, love and/or battle them.
The 2008 Mihmiverse film, "
Cave Women on Mars," is a loving tribute to the "battle-of-the-sexes-in-space" genre. It has deep roots in the golden age of science fiction. Here's an (admittedly) incomplete list of the films that make up the "
Cave Women on Mars" "family tree."
 | "Cat-Women of the Moon" (1953) |
|
1953's "
Cat-Women of the Moon" finds a group of astronauts discovering the last eight survivors of an ancient civilization of Moon Women. Living in a cave with the last of the moon's breathable air (and two giant moon spiders) the Cat-Women sport black unitards, beehive hairstyles, and elaborate cosmetics. Knowing they only have so much air left, the Cat-Women plot to steal the astronauts' ship and travel to Earth to, naturally, conquer it. The Cat-Women have special powers, specifically telepathic abilities and the power to transport themselves from place to place. How will our brave astronauts foil their evil plan? I would tell you, but that would ruin the fun!
1956 brought us "
Fire Maidens of Outer Space." This time, a group of astronauts find the last surviving members of an ancient civilization (all female, of course) on the 13th moon of Jupiter. Duessa, the leader of the aliens, is determined to hold the Earth men captive to be used as mates. There is a monster (you can see the zippers!), a plot line involving the aliens being an Atlantean colony, and some really bad acting. It ranks high enough on the "so-bad-it's-good" scale that "
Mystery Science Theater 3000" used it for an episode.
Next, we jump ahead to 1968 and end up with "
Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women." This one gets complicated. Originally a Russian film, it was re-purposed for American audiences with extra footage added courtesy of Peter Bogdanovich, director of the multi-Academy-Award-winning "
The Last Picture Show." He left his name off the final product, but it only takes one viewing to understand why. Roger Corman was the producer and hired Boddanovich to add extra "production value" (read: attractive women) to the film. Bogdanovich hired Mamie Van Doren and a handful of blondes specifically because he thought the women of space should be blonde. This time, Venus is the home to our ancient tribe of women. The astronauts kill a monster, the monster turns out to be their god, and the women try to kill the astronauts. Amazingly, the Academy completely overlooked this film!
There are several other sci-fi films that deal with a society made up either entirely of women or with woman as the dominant sex, and they usually wish to do harm to male astronauts or capture them for breeding purposes. Looking back, it's clear this was because, at the time, Hollywood's idea of a woman's place wasn't very evolved. Still, through a modern lens, these films can be a lot of fun to poke fun at!
That brings us to "
Cave Women on Mars." Here's the official synposis of the film: "It is the future. 1987. Great scientific advances have allowed mankind to achieve that which previously only existed in speculative fiction: space travel. But, on the eve of humanity's first manned mission to the red planet, no amount of speculation could adequately prepare us for the unexpected discovery of...
CAVE WOMEN ON MARS!"
This film is a real treat for Mihmiverse fans. A great cast of returning regulars and some fresh new faces make "
Cave Women on Mars" a "must see!" Daniel R. Sjerven and Josh Craig play the intrepid astronauts. There are two tribes of cave women: The (good) blonde tribe led by Brooke Lemke and Alana Bloom and the (evil) brunette tribe led by Rachel Grubb and Emily Fradenburgh.
The always wonderful Stephanie Mihm plays the mysterious High Priestess with Elizabeth Kaiser as her Acolyte. Ms. Kaiser turns in what is probably her best performance in a Mihmiverse film.
Is there a monster? Of course there is! Michael Kaiser once again plays the creature and I, for one, always look forward to seeing him.
The film is purposely tongue-in-cheek fun from beginning to end. Mr. Sjerven is always great as a stalwart hero and Ms. Lemke plays the strong leader perfectly. Ms. Grubb (one of my favorite Mihmiverse actors) is wonderful as the evil leader of the dark haired tribe. It is no wonder Mr. Mihm keeps bringing her back for more movies. She always gives us a great performance and, I have to say, she looks great in her black leather cave women outfit!
The plot takes some great turns I wouldn't dare give away, but it has everything from action to romance! If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you immedately go to
SaintEuphoria.com and pick up a copy! You will be glad you did!
Til next month, "Ignore Meat. Follow Steve!"