Vampire Zombies…From Space!:
Inside Mike Stasko’s Homage to 1950s B-Movies
Ahead of its screening at the Calgary Underground Film Festival, I caught up with director Mike Stasko over Zoom to talk about Vampire Zombies…From Space!, his black-and-white homage to 1950s drive-in horror. As I noted that I wouldn’t be using the video for the piece, Stasko made it clear that he was “wearing a tuxedo” for our conversation — and there is no proof to say otherwise.
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Origins of Vampire Zombies…From Space!
Vampire Zombies…From Space! has deep roots. Writers Jakob Skrzypa and Alex Forman first penned an early version of the script back in high school, patching together homemade segments on VHS and Super 8. “It was really funny,” Stasko said. “A lot of the characters were there, a lot of the gags were there. But it was very much setup after setup with no through-line.” Turning it into a feature meant reshaping it structurally without sanding off its rough, chaotic spirit. “The idea of a through-line sometimes meant getting rid of characters, sometimes amalgamating them,” he explained. “The heroine character started as three different people. We needed her to be a little more three-dimensional by the end, even if just for a moment.”
Film Influences and Genre Nods
There’s a clear reverence for genre history in the final product. Stasko cites Plan 9 from Outer Space as an obvious influence, but when it came to shaping the film’s look and feel, it was Young Frankenstein that left the deeper impression. “One of my favourite films of all time, even before this project, is Young Frankenstein,” he said. “I’m not comparing our film to that grand slam — we’re maybe a double up the line — but it was shot very handsomely, beautifully lit, the production design was spot on. Then it turned the world on its head so that when something silly happens, you’re laughing at the gag.”
In Vampire Zombies…From Space!, the jokes are often on the nose, and the tropes are heavy-handed, but Stasko knows this. He leans into it deliberately, trusting that the audience would recognize the affection behind the absurdity. “You’re laughing at the gag, but the world still has to hold together,” he said. That balance is what makes the film more than just a throwaway parody.
The Cinematography of Vampire Zombies…From Space!
Visually, the film is often stunning — something that could easily be overlooked amid the screaming, chaos, and practical effects. Shot on an ARRI Alexa Mini, nearly the entire movie relies heavily on just three prime lenses: 28 mm, 50 mm, and 85 mm. “Ken was a real find,” Stasko said of his Windsor-based cinematographer. “He knew the assignment, and he took it extremely seriously.” Stasko emphasized the extent of the preparation: four days of camera tests, Sunday shot-planning meetings, and sixteen-hour production days. “I’m heavy-handed with shot selection — forty-seven setups a day — but Ken authored the lighting design. When you see a light cutting through the trees, that’s him.”
A Canadian Production, Performances, and The Score
Shooting in Windsor, Ontario, was a natural choice for Stasko. “I left for thirteen years for school and work, but seventy-five percent of my work has been here,” he said. Windsor’s tightly knit filmmaking community meant that resources stretched further. One third-act scene involved 180 zombie extras in full make-up, something that “would have swallowed the whole budget in Toronto.” Local access to a top-tier post-production house, Suede Productions, was another key advantage.
When it came to performances, Stasko leaned into instinct. “I like to see the actors’ first take without any input,” he said. “It gives that campy delivery we need.” After a first pass, he would tweak the second or third takes to get alternate versions, but rarely pushed for polish. “The film lends itself to stitching together those unpolished snippets,” he noted. “That’s where the funny lives.”
The music in Vampire Zombies…From Space! follows the same philosophy that governs its visuals: commit fully, even to the ridiculous. Composer Ian Smith crafted a sweeping score that plays every scene straight, stripping out early “wacky” cues in favour of sincere orchestration. “We discovered it works best played seriously — like a John Williams score under bats on strings,” Stasko explained. The result is intentional — and effective. The more seriously the music treats the material, the funnier the film becomes.
The Festival Success of Vampire Zombies…From Space!
Even with its knowingly chaotic energy, Vampire Zombies…From Space! has found real momentum on the festival circuit, with over thirty-five selections so far. Stasko attributes this partly to the film’s rarity. “A black-and-white spoof of 1950s vampire-zombie films might appear once every five years,” he said. “Even at genre festivals, there’s nothing else like it.”
Ultimately, Vampire Zombies…From Space! is fully aware of what it is: a loving send-up packed with heavy tropes, shameless jokes, and more heart than you might expect. Beneath the blood, foam, and firecrackers, it is also a gorgeous piece of filmmaking. It’s a testament to Stasko and his team’s commitment that amid the madness, there are moments of real beauty that remind you this is a film made by people who deeply understand both the craft and the camp.
Vampire Zombies…From Space! Trailer
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