Mystery Science Theater 3000: The RiffTrax Experiments

Deathsport presents the type of action and adventure you'd expect from the director of such thrilling films as Rock 'n' Roll High School and Caddyshack II. It stars David Carradine, whose bad movie oeuvre RiffTrax fans are well familiar with, as well as Richard Lynch, who MST3K fans may remember as the dopey guy "Noel" from Werewolf (pronounced VAIR-vilf). It's a film that has more one-hundred-foot-tall explosions than set pieces. People wave around awkwardly large, plexiglass swords. Roger Corman produced it. When asked to provide a one-line synopsis of this film, Kevin Murphy responded, "David Carradine in a furry loincloth."

Kinda long ago, in a galaxy sorta far away, outer space looks suspiciously like a series of industrial warehouses. Sadly, no railing kills this time out, but you will get plenty of effects sequences directly lifted from Battle Beyond The Stars. This is another entry in the storied history of MST3K movies that have padded their runtime/budget by recycling footage from another film. By the way, did we mention Roger Corman produced this? A boy named Peter stows away on a (space) pirate ship after witnessing the (space) pirates murder about three dozen people. After graciously deciding not to sell him, they embark on a series of adventures (see: footage recycled from Battle Beyond The Stars) where nothing horrible happens to any of the main characters.

The storied history of Mystery Science Theater includes many, MANY cheap rubber monster suits... and somehow, some way, Sting of Death may have the worst so far. MSTies might recognize director William Grefé as the director behind the MST3K Season 2 experiment Wild Rebels. You'll be happy to know he made Sting of Death first, so Wild Rebels was a movie he made as an even more experienced filmmaker. As an added bonus, this movie also features the aptly titled "Do The Jellyfish" by Songwriting Hall of Fame inductee Neil Sedaka. Does this tune warrant TWO extended dance sequences? Probably not, but it is an earworm that will still be drilled into your head long after the credits roll.