Review: Planet of the Gorilla Suits

Text © Robert Barry Francos / FFanzeen, 2020

Images from the Internet

Planet of the Gorilla Suits

Directed by Richard Griffin

Scorpio Films Releasing

Appx. 40 minutes total, 2020

What do you do when you’re an independent filmmaker, and you can’t gather your cast due to a worldwide pandemic? Well, the answer for the collective at Scorpio Film Releasing, under the direction of indie maestro Richard Griffin, is to make a “science-fiction homage of the [radio] serials of the 1930s-‘50 that’s filled with action, romance, danger and cheap special [sound] effects!” (in his own words).

Of course, I’m not old enough to have lived through those bygone days of yore, when people gathered ‘round the tube radio to listen to adventure stories, but I have heard serials on cassette tapes. I even stayed at a Bed & Breakfast (yes, I’m one of those people) in New Hampshire that had it’s own radio station, and they broadcast old serial shows. Point is, I’m somewhat familiar with the Flash Gordon and Perils of Pauline style of broadcasts. Heck, there were even serial versions of Superman and Batman back in the day.

For the format of the serial broadcast with Planet of the Gorilla Suits, which is broken up into 10 parts (that’s why it’s serial, not cereal… sorry), averaging about 4 minutes per episode, the cast is seen on multiple screens (Skype?) reading from their respective homes, keepin’ it real – and safe.

The basic premise is that a group of scientists, the astronaut Rhett and his young brother Bucky (there was always one of those high-pitched voice comedy relief guys in these serials, and in 1950s sci-fi films, often with nicknames like “Brooklyn”), are sent to Mars because rays from the planet are causing auto accidents on Earth. There, they run into a humanoid race living underground (including one in a bikini and an evil “Ming the Emperor” type leader called Lepton the Lethal). Above ground are the titular “Gorilla Suits” apes who are apparently being driven mad by the results of our atomic tests.

This sci-fi ‘cast has it all, like giant spiders and scorpions, killer robots that you know are going to look like Robbie the Robot in your mind (or perhaps the one from “Lost in Space”). I do find it interesting that the leaders of the humanoids and the gorilla suits are women, and both are out for blood.

Written by Guy Benoit (who wrote the excellent film, Exhumed), if this sounds goofy, it is, and it is also hysterically over-the-top funny. For example, one of the “sponsors” of the show is Asbestos Cigarettes, which is promoted by “9 out of 10 doctors on iron lungs,” and good for anyone “8 to 80.” I wish there were more of these kinds of ads throughout, but I’m being picky.

There is no doubt that the story is silly and attached by a string of WTFs, but if you did listen to any other original serials, this is actually quite accurate, while being a loving jab at them at the same time. It kept me smiling all the way through, and even had a few LOLs thrown in.

I love that this troupe is doing this, because this is perfect for sitting around the house day after day, week after week. This serial was released over a two-week period, but honestly, I waited until they were all done to binge watch/listen (my style), rather than “tune in next time for…” as the cliffhangers (did you know that expression was named for the Perils of Pauline serial, much like “jump the shark” was for “Happy Days”?) rolled on by. I’m impatient to find out what happens “next.”

What’s even better is that this is only the first of the serials, with new ones to be starting shortly, each of a different type. I believe the next will be a romantic comedy. I’m looking forward to when they do a Lights Out kind of horror thing, but will enjoy what they throw my way in the meantime.

The first episode is linked below, and they will flow through and jump to the next as you watch them. Have a blast!

Planet of the Gorilla Suit, Episode 1: