Zombies from Outer Space

A B-film from the 1950s or 60s, right? Wrong! It’s Zombies from Outer Space (Germany-2010; dir. Martin Faltermeier), though the retro vibe seems to be the intention. Writer/director Martin Faltermeier’s Zombies from Outer Space clearly references the low-budget science fiction horror flicks of Hollywood’s past, with its period setting and melodramatic scifi approach. The creators describe it as “the first folkloristic Bavarian 50’s B-Movie ever made”. Beautiful woman, local cop, visiting square-jawed US military hero, alien invasion, flying saucers, zombies…. in fact… zombies from outer space….

Synopsis:

Bavaria in the late fifties. One day the life of Maria, a young girl, changes when she stumbles upon the dead body of an woman. Scientist Dr. Robert Hölzlein and the American lieutenant John Welles, stationed in Bavaria, are commissioned to solve what is obviously a murder case. But trouble seems inevitable as both are interested in the beautiful Maria.

As more and more dead women are discovered in the area, along with mysterious sightings of unidentified flying objects, fear and mistrust grows among the inhabitants.

While inspecting a crop circle Lieutenant Welles finds a dead alien, and an autopsy of the strange corpse leads Hölzlein to a terrible conclusion. Too late he discovers the connection between the dead women and the inexplicable UFO visitations. Before he can alert the population, however, undead aliens rise from their tombs beneath crop circles throughout the district, their aim to destroy humanity. Will the two rivals, Robert and John, realise in time that their only chance for survival is to work together?

Check out the trailer. It’s in German, but that flying saucer crosses all language barriers!

[Just added: now in English, with subtitles]

Currently in post-production, Zombies from Outer Space will be released with English subtitles and will run in several Festivals in 2011. A new trailer is in the works and will be released on YouTube before the year’s out. Watch this space.

Meanwhile, check out this great set of images from the film: