Forbidden World is a movie that sort of feels like it happened on a fluke. After Corman's company finished up filming on Galaxy of Terror, another great sci-fi film, they decided they wanted to use the set for one more scene, a scene that would be the opening to their next film--a film that hadn't been written and didn't even have a concept, outline, or even a pitch yet.
Corman asked a upcoming director, Alan Holzman, to film one scene on the set just to see what he could do. Holzman wrote up a short script and filmed the scene in a single day. Corman liked what Holzman had done so they began discussing script ideas. After shooting down scripts for space epics for being too expensive they settled on making another sci-fi horror film. They quickly threw together a script, a cast and crew, and began filming. After about three weeks they had a little movie titled: Mutant. Mutant eventually morphed into the title Forbidden World and was released to the public.
As is the case with scientists, many of the lab technicians are hoping to keep the specimen alive for study. The female scientists want to try and communicate with the new species. Colby on the other hand just wants to blow the thing up.
Soon, the creature begins killing the lab members one by one. Turning them into a gelatinous goo that grows, separates, and multiplies. This goo turns out to be the creatures food source. And the creature wants to harvest all the humans to create its own little food farm.
It comes to Colby and the remaining few scientists to figure out a way to destroy the ever changing, ever growing creature before it turns them all into mutant food.
One thing that often bothers me about b-horror films, especially sci-fi films, is that they don't flesh out their creature/lore. Often times the monsters in these movies mutate or kill for no apparent reason other than it is fun to watch the characters die. This film--despite being made on a very low budget and being written and filmed in only a few weeks--has a well thought out plot line and well thought out enemy creature.
In some ways I like the science behind this creature more than Alien. The thought of being slowly turned into goo while you're still alive is quite disgusting and frightening. And the creature itself looks pretty disturbing.
The setting of the lab on a desert planet is a perfect accompaniment to the story. It gives a feeling of desolation and isolation. The sets look amazing and give off the perfect 1980s sci-fi vibe.
The actors portray their characters well, and the characters are written in a way that makes them likable and relateable--even if some of the people in the lab have totally unrealistic, overly active sex drives. But that only adds to the b-movie fun.
Summing it Up
Deaths: 7
Language: 2
Gore Factor: 5
Sex Factor: 4
Scare Factor: 3
Fun Factor: 5
Overall Rating: 5