Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

In the year 1990, scientists from an American "space institute" translate a radio signal sent from a distant planet notifying Earthlings of an impending visit, but instead the intrepid aliens crash land on Mars and a rescue team is sent into space to find them. Another one of those B-grade American International products with poster art more creative and promising than the film being advertising. Still, writer-director Curtis Harrington isn't Ed Wood; he attempts to put on a colorful show, even though a great deal of the special effects footage has been lifted from two Soviet features, "Mechte Navstrechu" and "Nebo Zovyot". Actors John Saxon, Basil Rathbone and Dennis Hopper alternately look bemused and embarrassed. ** from ****

*Spoiler/plot- Queen of Blood, 1966. Takes place in 1990, Earth is contacted by a mysterious alien culture by probe. Earth's scientists send out a rescue crew to recover the aliens from Mars and an alien crash survivor on Mar's moon, Phobos. A female alien survivor is saved from Phobos and is returned to Earth with the rescue crew. During the return trip the crew find out the alien is dangerous to the them and the alien is producing offspring to re-populate wherever it lands.*Special Stars- Basil Rathbone, Dennis Hopper, John Saxon, Florence Marly, Forrest Ackerman.*Theme- Alien cultures come to Earth to assimilate them.*Trivia/location/goofs- Color. Russian/American. Campy R. Corman 'mash-up' of two Soviet films, typical Roger Corman techniques. Goofs: Spaceship leaves the moon base passing through clouds? Look for furnace filter on the front of the galaxy listening recording machine. Missing gold swim cap from the alien's helmet screen turns into bee-hived hairdo. The alien eggs were convincing looking, but they were simple colored pink rubber balloons with green jello placed around them.*Emotion- A memorable (though campy now) B-Movie about spaceships, and vampire aliens coming to Earth. What is also interesting of this film is the selective editing of two other films from behind the Iron Curtain/Cold War to make this film with an intriguing new film plot by Roger Corman. Due to the strong and lasting images and plot of this film, this film rates higher than it's contemporaries. It's worth being seen and enjoyed.

The producers of this film owe thanks to the Russian film, Mechte navstrechu, for keeping costs down by providing critical footage.But, the sci-fi effects are dazzling, and the color is brilliant, especially for a film from the 60s. I wish our current astronauts wore suits as colorful as the ones in this film.It also features some good actors: John Saxon, Golden Globe nominee for The Appaloosa, the same year; two-time Oscar nominee, famous swashbuckler, and the definitive Sherlock Holmes, Basil Rathbone; a very young two-time Oscar nominee, Dennis Hopper; Mr. Science Fiction, Forrest J Ackerman, who is credited with creating the term sci-fi; and, of course, Florence Marly (in one of her last films) as the Queen of Blood.Interesting precursor to Alien.

As a child of the 60s/70s, I realized (in hindsight, of course) how many of the wonderfully effective B-movies I remember were made by one man; Curtis Harrington. Films like THE DEAD DON'T DIE (scary, zombie/noir TV movie), WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO? (psychotic HANSEL & GRETEL-like movie) and many others. This film has plenty for modern audiences to laugh at, granted; but, in many ways it is the precursor to ALIEN. As much, if not more so than Mario Bava's PLANET OF VAMPIRES. The film uses Russian special effects footage from NIEBO ZOWIET(c.1960) as a way to inject production value into a very low budget frame. And what the hell, it works! The actors, especially Basil Rathbone(yes, Sherlock Holmes himself) are pretty stiff (although a very young Dennis Hopper tries to be more 'natural'). However, Florence Marley as the Vampire Queen is (to this day) an utter show stopper. With her deliberately unnatural smile and balletic body language, she truly seems alien. She makes this movie work! Forry Ackerman's cameo at the end with the 'eggs' is also very effective. Like the Weyland/Yutani Corporation of the ALIEN movies, one realizes Ackerman's inviting disaster on a planetary scale. Nice, nihilistic ending (I miss those once in awhile!). When I was younger, this movie really got to me. As I watch it now, I'm still impressed with Ms. Marley's work. And Harrington's efficient storytelling. Yes, the 'Space Institute' sequences are a little too 'Johnny Astro-Rocket Boy' for even my taste (and I can forgive a lot if a movie works), but once the movie gets into space, it starts to gel. Some details (the continuity between the Russian footage space suits with the American made suits, the interactive lighting during the rocket launches, etc.) are nicely handled. It's gratifying to see care applied to even the lowest budget films. This is no Ed Wood, "see-what-I-made-in-my-backyard-for-six-bucks -and-a-pint-of-scotch?"effort(although those films are hypnotic in their own hideous way). One of the lessons gleaned from movies like this is that a low budget need not be a show killer. This is a simple, effective, ALIEN prototype with a few decent scares and a very effective antagonist/monster. A nice little lesson in getting some good bang for your buck, from Curtis Harrington.