Stuff To Blow Your Mind Weirdhouse Cinema: Starcrash
May 8, 2026
A playful dive into a 1978 space-fantasy knockoff packed with delirious dialogue and psychedelic visuals. They unpack mixed effects, stop-motion robots, and Flash Gordon and Barbarella influences. Discussion covers odd casting choices, unexpected John Barry music, and an aesthetic that's polished rather than lived-in. The plot's wild set pieces and dubbing quirks get lively, affectionate commentary.
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Where To Watch Star Crash And Which Edition To Pick
- If you want to watch Star Crash, seek out the Shout Factory Blu‑ray or the MST3K RiffTrax version for extra context.
- Rob and Joe mention New World Pictures distribution and the two‑disc DVD special features as useful sources.
High-Class Acting Meets Glorious Schlock
- Casting mixes prestige and schlock: Christopher Plummer lends gravitas while other actors (Joe Spinell, David Hasselhoff) bring culty energy.
- Rob emphasizes Plummer's classiness becomes hilariously incongruous in the film's context.
Joe Spinell Turns Villainy Into Glorious Excess
- Joe Spinell's Count Zartharn is miscast yet irresistible: snarling, cape-flourishing, and often dubbed, his scenes are a highlight of pure operatic excess.
- Hosts praise Spinell's cape and theatricality, calling each Zartharn scene "delicious."