The film follows an astronaut (Barry Sullivan) and his partner (Norma Bengell) flee from walking-dead astronauts looking to hitch a ride back Earth to indulge in a sanguineous smorgasbord on a volcanic planet.
It's mainly Bava's masterful invention behind the camera that makes the film work. His movement and timing provide an atmosphere that clearly wasn't there in the script.
Planet of the Vampires is not among the best of the scary sci-fi genre, but seen under the optimum circumstances, fans of schlock or/and vintage Italian horror will find it fun.
