THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI
1966 AIP
Directed by Don Weis

It’s a wild and wacky go-go party for all as the nice folks at AIP bring you yet another selection from the ever-popular Beach Party series! And while this later entry features neither Frankie Avalon nor Annette Funicello, it’s still got enough of that special AIP magic to make it a must-see cult classic. And if, for whatever lame reason, you aren’t familiar with the American International Pictures from the ‘60’s, let’s just say briefly that Sam Arkoff and Jim Nicholson were shameless at incestuously intermixing scenes, stars, music and sets in their movies. Now, THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI, which opens with a shot from Corman’s THE HAUNTED PALACE, is certainly no exception. Luckily, they also borrowed from Corman the legendary Boris Karloff (!) who stars as the recently croaked Hiram Stokely. who must do one good deed in order to spend eternity with the heavenly Susan Hart – all dolled up in a big, blonde wig and – that’s right – an invisible bikini! And so, zany antics ensue as Karloff and the ghost attempt to thwart the evil plans of dastardly attorney Reggie Ripper (Basil Rathbone) and make sure that Stokely’s fortune goes to his rightful heirs. (what’s that? You say you’ve heard this plot before?)
Well, Ripper and his vile sidekick, J. Sinister Hulk are determined to swindle the socks off of that loveable duo of Tommy Kirk and Deborah Walley! They enlist the aid of a couple of circus rejects, a gorilla named Monstro and Reggie’s luscious but annoying daughter Sinistra (wickedly played by Quinn O’Hara, who also stars in the edgier AIP rip-off A SWINGIN’ SUMMER).
But, fret not, trash fiends… Nancy Sinatra and a whole busload of Beach Party kids show up just in time to make things REALLY interesting!
Now… throw in Eric Von Zipper and his gang of juvenile delinquents, an ill-fated séance, more gals in bikinis, a secret basement torture chamber, a fun Les Baxter score and a bunch of unexplained monsters, and you end up with a madcap mix of merriment and monkey business! WOW!
So, even though the jokes are predictable and the songs are quite possibly the worst of all the Beach Party movies, THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI is still a trasheriffic treat and well worth your time.

-Creepy Christy