The Wizard of Mars
Seen it?1965 | 78 min | Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Monday Morning Maybeearly ratingWhy it’s a Monday Morning Maybe
With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- One for space nerds and anyone who believes we're not alone. Much of it plays out in space, so the scale is part of the thrill. Shelve it next to Alien: Romulus. The aliens are the hook, but the human reactions are the story.
- The mood
- Scary.
- The pace
- Tense from early on, at 1 hr 18 min. Done before bedtime.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1965: an older pace and style.
- Skip it if you scare easily or watch alone at night.
In 1974, four astronauts, silver shoe-clad Dorothy, overweight Doc, goofy Charlie, and wooden Steve, crash land on Mars when taking readings, with only four days of supplies. They must try to survive on the surface, which is barren except for some canals with huge maggots with fins. After embarking through a golden igneous cavern, braving a storm and finding an unmanned Earth vessel, they discover a golden road which leads them to the unchanging ruins of what was once a beautiful Martian city. The Martians are modeled on the Flatheads of Oz, and their collective consciousness, the "Wizard," forbids them to leave until they perform a very small task...
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$33K worldwide on a $33K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 9K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by David L. Hewitt
- John CarradineThe Wizard of Mars
- Roger GentrySteve
- Vic McGeeDoc
- Jerry RannowCharlie
- Eve BernhardtDorothy