Zombie Cats From Mars (2015): The Weirdest Alien-Cat Apocalypse Movie You’ll Ever See

Zombie Cats From Mars (2015) tells the story of a sleepy town thrown into panic when alien zombie cats begin a murderous rampage.

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A Retro Homage to 1950s Sci-Fi Horror

Zombie Cats From Mars is a 2015 American-made low-budget 1950s horror pastiche written by producer/actor/writer Ryan Cloutier and directed by independent filmmaker Montetré.

Both creatives worked together on other underground local productions, with rousing titles like Pickled (2010) or Sun Tzu Zombie Warriors (2013). The concept behind both independent creatives was to create a loving throwback to the cheap monster and sci-fi films that graced drive-in theaters and multiplexes in the 1950s and early 1960s.

As expected, Zombie Cats From Mars brims with cheesy, low-budget special effects reminiscent of smartphone apps.

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Alongside this, there is plastic-looking puppetry, rough patchwork, stilted acting (sometimes delivering lines with intentional hilarity, echoing the style of “Why God? Why?”), and a sprinkle of surrealistic imagery—probably because people like Ed Wood did it, too.

Particularly noteworthy are the POV shots of the kitties, which are pretty crazy and must be seen to be believed.

But first, let us dive into the story of Zombie Cats From Mars.

Plot Overview: Aliens, Cats, and Small-Town Chaos

Young Billy Roberts (Bransen Sands Koehler) is an avid fan of vintage sci-fi and monster films. When Billy sees a flying saucer, he becomes convinced that aliens are taking over the town. His best friend, Cameron (Estevan Muñoz), a nerdy film buff, is skeptical, just like the rest of the small community. 

Meanwhile, people are dying, starting with the reclusive “Crazy Cat Lady” Percis (Janae’ Werner).

As the body count rises, it seems that nobody is safe anymore in this sleepy little town. A local detective (Bobby Bridges) and his superior (Eric Pease) realize that something sinister is afoot and try to solve the killings.

Immersed in his love for sci-fi, Billy discovers a story where cats from Mars land on Earth and inflict horror upon a small town. Convinced that the neighborhood’s killings are the work of extraterrestrial felines from the flying saucer, Billy—armed with a wide array of classic B-film knowledge—sets off on a hero quest to save his hometown from impending catastrophe.

Where the Film Stumbles

Now, let us address the undeniable truth: Zombie Cats From Mars is not what you would call a cinematic masterpiece. Even considering its intention to pay homage to classic 1950s sci-fi, akin to Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957) or the animal attack films of yesteryear like Them! (1954) or Tarantula (1955), it falls short.

The film is slow-paced, lacks tension, and suffers from poor acting, numerous continuity errors, and hideous shots. While it features some outlandish scenes, such as the fake-out ending and the bizarre training sequence that comes across as a fever dream, it takes itself too seriously to succeed as a parody or satire.

But the many mistakes in the background make for a good drinking game. So, bottoms up!

Strengths, Charm, and B-Movie Spirit

That is not to say there are no redeeming qualities in Zombie Cats From Mars. The film shares similarities with the “do-it-yourself”Birdemic franchise by “director” James Nguyen, often dubbed one of the worst film series ever.

However, unlike Nguyen, who sees himself as the incarnation of Alfred Hitchcock, Zombie Cats From Mars embraces its intentional cheesiness, mirroring the B-movie charm of Ed Wood’s work. ZCFM—the official abbreviation coined by the creators—the film boasts some artistic merits.

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The background story has some impressive animation, the eerie red eyes of the cats add to the atmosphere, and the special makeup effects are decent.

Moreover, the film pays homage to cult classics like Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966), celebrated for its “so bad it’s good” status, and includes loving nods to George A. Romero, particularly his iconic zombie epic Day Of The Dead (1985). It is evident that the creative team has a passion for horror and sci-fi, and it is fun to catch all the references. 

Supporting Furry Cats and Animal Adoption

The reason why Montetré and Cloutier made this film adds a whole new perspective, casting it in a different light altogether. He created Zombie Cats From Mars as a highly ambitious and original promotion for Furry Cats, a no-kill cat shelter and rehoming organization founded in 1999 and located in Vancouver, WA.

The idea was to spotlight their cute homeless cats and facilitate their adoption into loving homes. Volunteers from the shelter and local amateur actors collaborated with the film crew to bring the project to life.

The sci-fi flick also featured five lovable furry friends from the shelter: Big Boy, Nico, Ulysses, Peggy Sue, and Germs.

Big Boy instantly found his much-needed golden basket and marked the beginning of a series of heartwarming success stories. Nico, the stunning black cat, captured the heart of makeup artist Samantha Nylen during filming and was adopted on the spot. 

The genuine affection for the cats shines through in this film, and in addition to the aforementioned feline adoptions, even a mouse (yes, you read that correctly!) found a loving home during production. This original concept deserves commendation for its innovative approach to promoting animal adoption and welfare.

Budget, Fundraising, and Release History

Montetré and Cloutier made Zombie Cats From Mars with an estimated $10.000 budget, with a portion of the funds sourced from a Kickstarter campaign that garnered over $2,000 in donations.

While a second Kickstarter campaign aimed at financing a Blu-ray release fell short of its target, Zombie Cats From Mars enjoyed screenings at several Pacific Northwest cinema venues, raising hundreds of dollars for the Furry Friends organization.

He also made the movie available through big retailers like Amazon. 

The Sequel: Zombie Cats From Mars 2

Given this success, one might expect a sequel to be on the horizon. Indeed, Zombie Cats From Mars 2 is in active production under the guidance of the same creative team.

Once again, the project is seeking funding through Kickstarter to make the follow-up a reality. Casting is currently underway, and filming is slated to commence soon, with teaser footage already in the works. To all feline enthusiasts, seize the opportunity to become a part of catsploitation cinema history!

Writer Cloutier announced that Zombie Cats From Mars 2 will be a prequel set in the 1957 Cold War.

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It follows the Peterson family, including remarried widow and mother Diane, her husband Warren, and her children, William and Armand. Rounding out the ensemble are William’s best friend Howie, cat-owning schoolgirls Doris and Patricia, Chief McManus, drama teacher Mr. Schlitz, retired physicist Grandpa Bill, and the eccentric neighbor Agnes, a former opera singer who loves performing Italian arias for her cat, James.

Against the backdrop of the nuclear family and a high school drama club performance, a team of Soviets rushes to launch an artificial satellite into space—a “catellite” capable of transmitting messages of murder and mayhem to Earth’s feline population.

Chaos ensues, leading three young heroes on a journey back in time to thwart the impending invasion of Zombie Cats from Mars.

Watch the Zombie Cats From Mars Trailer

Final Thoughts

Have you seen Zombie Cats From Mars? Or is it now on your to-watch list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

To support Furry Friends or learn about how you can help and what these wonderful angels are up to, please visit www.furryfriendswa.org.

Zombie Cats From Mars (2015) was also featured in 10 Cat Movies Set in Space.

Looking for more goofy indie movies with cats? Check out Catnado (2024) and Hell’s Kitty (2018).

About the Author

STEVE DE ROOVER has been a movie critic for such print and online publications as DVD Info, Moviegids, Moviepulp, Friday The 13th Films, Publicity Magazine, Hidden Horror: A Celebration of 101 Underrated and Overlooked Fright Flicks, When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals, Strange Blood: 71 Essays on Offbeat and Underrated Vampire Movies, Evil Seeds: The Ultimate Movie Guide to Villainous Children, Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies, and Schokkend Nieuws.

In 2013, he produced and directed the short vampire film Un Homme Bien, based on a screenplay by Vanessa Morgan. The film attracted attention on the international film festival circuit, which led to co-founding Skladanowsky.

Via this edgy production company, Steve has produced Has#tag, the Silver Méliès-winning Muil, Détours, and Old Birdie, among other titles. His feature horror documentary Forgotten Scares: An In-depth Look at Flemish Horror Cinema was picked up by Telenet, among other outlets, and is available on DVD and Blu-ray through Zeno Pictures.

For the international horror anthology feature Deathcember (featuring the works of participants such as Ruggero Deodato, Lucky McKee, and Trent Haaga), he co-wrote and directed the body-horror segment “Family Matters.”

Read more from Steve De Roover in Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies.

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