Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: The Humanoid

In this re-air of a classic episode from 2021, hosts Rob Lamb and Joe McCormick dive into 1979's Italian space opera *The Humanoid*, a notorious Star Wars ripoff that nonetheless offers a quirky, low-budget charm. The film, directed by Aldo Lado (credited as George B. Lewis), is a blatant homage to George Lucas’s 1977 masterpiece, featuring a Star Destroyer opening, a Darth Vader-esque villain in a crucifix-like face mask, stormtroopers, desert planets, and a MacGuffin called the Capitron. Despite its weak script and underwritten characters, the film gains life through standout performances—particularly Richard Keel as the gentle giant Golob, whose transformation into a hulking humanoid is both hilarious and heartfelt, and Arthur Kennedy as the manic scientist Dr. Craspin, who brings surprising energy to a flat ensemble. The episode explores the cultural phenomenon of 'Spaghetti Star Wars' films, their aesthetic mimicry of Star Wars, and the irony of how even the most derivative works can have unique appeal. The hosts also highlight the film’s bizarre, dreamlike ending and its unexpected emotional resonance, especially through the whimsical robot dog Kip and the psychic child TomTom. Though the film is often dull and derivative, it becomes a cult favorite for its charm, camp, and the iconic Ennio Morricone score that unexpectedly evokes Boards of Canada’s synth aesthetic.