The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr.

1996 documentary

Rating: 14/20

Plot: Alternatingly loving and loathing look at the life and career of B-movie director Ed Wood, from his completely normal childhood to his first film (a short Western) to his last (Plan Nine from Outer Space) which happens to be considered the worst film ever made.

There are some tender moments, some humorous moments, and some moments (mostly from the bizarrely vain Vampira and Bela Lugosi's bitter son) that get downright hateful. Most of the interviewees look back lovingly and/or sadly at the man. The majority of this documentary is made up of well-assembled interview segments and scenes from Wood's work that showcase his flaws and his complete ineptitude. And although there are some fascinating bits of insight (Vampira's claim that Orson Welles gave her the clap, the details of Tor Johnson's baptism and family's eating habits), there's not much that can be garnered from this that you can't get directly from "enjoying" Wood's oeuvre or from Tim Burton's exceptional biopic. I was a bit annoyed with the sets designed for interviewees (Vampira, for example, had skulls and webs all around her; maybe that was her bedroom though), but I did like how one guy had a ventriloquist dummy for no reason at all. Messy in spots and annoyingly beginning with an overture, this is overall a hit and miss affair. It's worth watching for fans of Wood's work though.