Cult-Tastic: Mad Scientists

Wasp Woman (1959) / Screamers (1981) / Forbidden World (1982) / Brain Dead (1989) / Watchers II (1990) / The Unborn (1991) / Piranha (1978) / Piranha (1995) / Attack Of The 50 Foot Cheerleader (2011) 

Wasp Woman (1959) Fun tale of office politics and body horror, as Susan Cabot's cosmetic company boss banks on an age reversing chemical, before transforming into the eponymous killer. Production and narrative is formula yet breezy, ideas and themes undeveloped.

Screamers (1981) Italian film Island Of The Fishmen already fused adventure, fantasy and monster horror in a stylish, overripe package. An added gory prolog and edit only accentuates the loopy narrative to become Screamers. An exploding volcano and Atlantis treasure tops it off.

Forbidden World (1982) Amusingly recycling sets and VFX from previous Corman productions, a lab created creature runs riot on a distant space station with abundant gore and nudity. A jumble of borrowed ideas, there's a strange purity to the excess that ensures its cult status.

Brain Dead (1989) Darkly amusing, confusingly plotted, bracingly styled tale of Bill Pullman exploring Bud Cort's paranoid mind on behalf of corporate money man Bill Paxton. Often feeling as schizophrenic as the subject matter, the performances maintain interest. 

Watchers II (1990) A more faithful adaptation of the original source novel rather than a sequel, scientists create a super-intelligent Golden Retriever and an assassin monster, with Marc Singer and Tracy Scoggins caught in the mayhem. Somehow resulted in two sequels. Humor helps.

The Unborn (1991) Though it plays on themes of pregnancy fear and psychological isolation, the central selling point is a mutant baby running violently amok. A compelling Brooke Adams is the emotional anchor,  as eerie visuals unsettle and body horror is increasingly gruesome.

Piranha (1978) The winning combination of Joe Dante and John Sayles provides a devious energy and knowing wit as genetically altered piranha munch their way downriver. Supporting cast delivers the laughs and the water set pieces provide vicious, bloody thrills.

Piranha (1995) A straight remake that strips away the comic touches and delivers dry horror. The leads are personable, but there's a lack of invention and distinctive voice which dampens the pacing and leaves the narrative as an efficient retread of a superior original.

Attack Of The 50 Foot Cheerleader (2011) An eclectic supporting cast could have provided more laughs, but the script barely rises above the juvenile and never delivers on its potential, apart from the expected gratuitous nudity. Only sporadic amusement survives.