Martians (armed with freeze guns and a robot made of cardboard boxes) kidnap Santa Claus and take him to Mars in an attempt to cheer up their miserable offspring. If you like your Christmas movies creepy (and who the hell doesn’t?) this is the best yuletide cinematic experience going – and I haven’t overlooked “Silent Night Deadly Night” or “Christmas Evil” in making such a statement. The movie looks like it was shot in someone’s bedroom and its many incidental pleasures include a cast that could have been recruited from a police line-up, a title song bellowed by a chorus of tone-deaf urchins and double-whammy Razzie Award winner Pia Zadora in her movie debut as a Martian poppet. The scene in which a couple of kids are attacked by a man in a polar bear suit is worth the price of admission alone. Perfect Christmas fare for the whole family – especially if the kids have been naughty.

Please note that this session of SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS will feature a live commentary from Cinema Fiasco hosts Geoff Wallis and Janet A. McLeod. You've been warned!

Director: Nicholas Webster

Starring: John Call, Leonard Hicks, Vincent Beck, Bill McCutcheon, Victor Stiles, Donna Conforti, Chris Month, Pia Zadora