The term Z movie or grade-Z movie began to be used in the mid-1960s to describe films that were not A films. It was later used to describe films that were considerably lower quality and originality than B and C films, but were produced at a similarly low budget.

B movies, made on very low budgets, not “A-list”, with relatively lesser-known actors, were creative enough to inspire today’s films despite their low budgets. With their successful use of lighting, atmosphere, creative camera angles, and some characteristic technical features, their value was understood long after their time and they influenced mainstream works. B movies also presented talented actors with a chance to become A movie stars. For example, Jack Nicholson and John Wayne started their careers in B movies.

In Z movies, it is not possible to see any trace of talent. Like B movies, they are shot on very low budgets, maybe even lower, but they have no artistic or cinematic value. The scripts are often ridiculously bad, there is a break in the continuity of the film. The cast is usually made up of non-professional actors.

When it comes to Z movies, director Ed Wood undoubtedly comes to mind. The director’s 1953 film Glen or Glenda and 1954’s Jail Bait were both very low-budget but still managed to be entertaining. In addition, Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outher Space (1959) has been considered the worst film in the history of cinema. The film is remembered for its meaningless script, strange dialogue, bad acting and very cheap effects. In fact, in some outdoor scenes, it is possible to see both night and day in the same scene.

The Creeping Terror (1964), directed by Arthur J. Nelson, is also one of the first Z movies with its unforgettable cheap effects. The materials used for the effects in the movie give the impression that they were bought at a flea market. Especially with the rocket launch scene in the movie, the movie says, “I am a real Z movie.”

Herold P. Warren’s Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966) is another example of a Z film, with its poor production and the characteristics of the Z films mentioned above. The film was shot with a camera that could not record sound due to lack of budget, and only three people voice the characters in the film.

Some examples of modern Z movies are Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold (1995) and Bikini Cavegirl (2004). Both of these movies were made by Fred Olen Ray, a memorable director of low-budget films, and contain nudity and softcore pornography. In addition, violence, gore and sexual content are prominent in today’s Z movies, and with these features they find a place in the exploitation genre.

Tolga Demirtas (tolga@iyikotufilm.com)