The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr.

"Ed Wood" the Johnny Depp film, is by far the most entertaining study of Ed Wood's life and filmmaking career, his methodology of making B films and his uniquely wild and somewhat deranged personality - where he lacked in talent he made up for in enthusiasm and passion for filmmaking - as well as his relationship with the late great Bela Lagosi, who he brought out of retirement to act in his films and also cared for during his geriatric addiction to morphine. As bad as most of Wood's films were, they were undeniably innovative and entertaining.This film, made two years later, is an actual documentary (one of only two ever made - read on) based on Ed Wood (as opposed to a dramatized biographical film like "Ed Wood"),that centers on how, after his death, his b-films became cult classics and what their impact was, along with his relationships and his unique place within the B-film industry within Hollywood.The sometimes bizarre and quirky interviews of people who knew him and worked with him are humorous and interesting - whether they were partially staged/scripted or not, but it is certainly missing some of the more important folks as some of the other reviews mention, and his 10-year decline into soft core porn is breezed by in one cut within the film, which is a huge blunder... whether fans of Wood like it or not, that was what he did for the entire last decade of his career. The filmmakers should have held themselves and this film to a higher standard - especially after the huge success of the film Ed Wood with Johnny Depp two years prior to the Haunted World's release.The film does however have something that no other does, and that is the unreleased footage of "Crossroads of Laredo" one of Ed Woods unreleased films - so for serious Ed Wood fans, this is a must. Otherwise it is an okay homage to Ed Wood but a lot of talking heads and not enough quality content. However, the bonus features are generous and good, and I have to give the makers credit for including a balance of perspectives on Wood - most of them are fond memories but they don't omit people like Lagosi, Jr. and others who did not like him (as much as I disagree with Lagosi, Jr. that Ed Wood exploited his father for his name - Lagosi was not working and was a morphine addict who Ed grew to deeply care for as is shown in "Ed Wood" as well as documented in other interviews of people who knew him.For serious fans, it is important to note the one other documentary that exists on Ed, which is very well received and known as both "The Ed Wood Story: Plan 9 Companion" and "Flying saucers over Holllywood: Plan 9"Plan 9 is a reference to the film Plan 9. I have never seen either Plan 9 or the documentary, but would like to, as far as I can see it has never been released on DVD, and there are only a few VHS copies as of the writing of this review that are for sale on Amazon, with two different covers but to my knowledge the same film. That film examines the directorial history of Ed Wood with particular attention to the making of 'Plan 9' and again, is considered the better documentary of the two.

Crafted with great respect, director Brett Thompson has fashioned a smart, sentimental journey back into the mind and movies of one Edward D. Wood, Jr.. He's done it rather well. Ed Wood and Orson Welles used their own money and private resources to finance the original "Independent Movies" of the 1950's and 1960's. Welles you've heard of. And today, we also remember Ed Wood. He directed the still humorous classic "Plan 9 From Outer Space". Ed Wood was so broke he couldn't pay the lab to develop the film on his last movie. "We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives". Those were his words. This is his life. A complete work of love, "The Haunted World of Ed Wood" reviews his first 5 movies, his amusing Hollywood antics, and his own personal decline. Bulging with special features, easter eggs, interviews, premieres, and memorials, "The Haunted World of Ed Wood" chronicles the now famous B-picture director and casts bright lights on a 1950's Hollywood we can no longer find. From Vampira to Bela Lugosi(including rare 1932 interviews), actors living and dead are interviewed(where possible) for this tribute to the sexually ambiguous Wood. This brand new DVD enhances the original 1995 documentary and includes the first complete release of Wood's 22-minute western, "Crossroads of Laredo(featuring director Wood acting in 3 small parts)". Somewhere in another dimension, in a place known as B-picture heaven, the fog is starting to lift. The lights have flickered on. The camera box is dirty. There's dust on the lens. The actors flub their lines. The cardboard set shakes a little. Somebody mutters about getting paid. Ed Wood is making a movie.

It's clear that Brett Thompson's documentary about Ed Wood was thoroughly researched and well made. Ed Wood comes across as a director with limited talent but unlimited enthusiasm, who had a real love for making movies. Most people remembered Ed fondly, but a few did not have kind things to say about him. Bela Lugosi, Jr. called Ed a user and a loser, who put his famous father in his movies just to capitalize on Lugosi's celebrity status. What he fails to mention is that, by the time Ed Wood met him, Bela Lugosi was a has been that nobody else would even hire. Gregory Walcott, who played the pilot Jeff Trent in "Plan 9 From Outer Space," likened the movie's production to a grade school play. I give Brett Thompson credit for including those interviews, to balance the documentary with those who only praised Ed's efforts. The biggest complaint I have about this documentary is the fact that it doesn't include Ed Wood's work in soft-core pornographic movies, acting in "Pretty Models All In A Row" and directing "Necromania," his final film. While it's sad to see what depths Ed had sunk to in his later years, it was an important part of his life that is entirely omitted. The highest praise I have is for one of the DVD's many bonus features. They managed to find and restore "Crossroads Of Laredo," Ed Wood's very first directorial effort. That alone is worth the price of this DVD.

Wow- If you liked the film ED WOOD with Johnny Depp this is a must. It's the real deal with the real people that made themovies with Ed Wood Jr- winner of the Golden Turkey Award as the "worst director of all times" and his famed film Plan Nine from Outer Spacewas named the "worst film ever made ". How can you go wrong ?.Well produced and directed. The true story of the underbelly of Hollywood and the "little people" with big dreams, big schemes and little talent.Ed Wood Jr is the most famous cult film celebrity of all times. This is his story told by his closest friends.Dana Herrell

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