MST3K 1001 - Soultaker

1001 - Soultaker
Air/Release Date	April 11, 1999
MST3K Director	Kevin Murphy
Running Time	90 Min
Movie Director	Michael Rissi
Year	1990
Cast	Joe Estevez Vivian Schilling Gregg Thomsen David 'Shark' Fralick Robert Z'Dar
Preceded by	913 - Quest of the Delta Knights
Followed by	1002 - Girl in Gold Boots

“	Souptaper?	”
	- Crow T. Robot (misreading the title card)

“	Hm, 'story by' so there will be a story, that's encouraging.	”
	- Tom Servo

The Movie

Main article: Soultaker (film)

Synopsis

Five young people are killed in a car crash. Some of their souls then try to evade the Soultaker, who is trying to collect them and send them to the afterlife. The Soultaker is revealed to have a personal interest in one of the young women.

The Episode

Host Segments

• 

  The SOL encounters a strange probe

  Prologue: The bots decide to have a "wet T-shirt contest." They throw some T-shirts into water and don't see what the fuss is about. The commercial sign malfunctions, and a strange probe can be seen hovering above...

• Segment One: As the malfunctions on the SOL get worse, the crew receives a transmission of an image of Martin Van Buren with a figure barely discernible behind it. Pearl and Brain Guy initially don't care, but they decide to send up the movie after some encouragement from Bobo. The movie sign malfunctions.

• Segment Two: With Gypsy malfunctioning, Mike tries to take command. He is not effective.

  

  Joel returns to the SOL

• Segment Three: Everything goes wrong on the SOL, but nobody in Castle Forrester can help because a soultaker has appeared - it's TV'S FRANK! - who is amazed by Pearl's food from Taco Bell. Meanwhile, the mysterious ship saves the SOL from crashing.

• Segment Four: The mysterious visitor who saved the SOL appears on the bridge—and it's JOEL! He fills in the bots on what he's been up to & reveals that Dr. Forrester sabotaged the satellite. He and Mike meet face to face for the first time and share a tender moment.

  

  TV's Frank returns!

• Segment Five: Joel completes repairs on the SOL, says hi to Frank, and departs with some uplifting words to Mike & the Bots. In Castle Forrester, Bobo and Frank hit it off.

• Stinger: Fake mom ogles her not-daughter.

MST3K cast

Regular cast

• Michael J. Nelson - Mike Nelson
• Mary Jo Pehl - Pearl Forrester
• Bill Corbett - Crow T. Robot / Brain Guy
• Kevin Murphy - Tom Servo / Professor Bobo
• Patrick Brantseg - Gypsy

Guest cast

• Frank Conniff - TV's Frank
• Joel Hodgson - Joel Robinson

Trivia

• After taking the last two episodes of Season 9 off, Mary Jo Pehl is back on the writing staff for the entire 10th season.
• Joel Hodgson returns, making his first appearance since Season 5's Mitchell.
  • Joel's jumpsuit still includes the word "Gizmonics" on the front, marking the only reference to the Gizmonic Institute during Mike's time on the Satellite of Love.
  • Joel again sports a goatee, as he last did in Season 4's Hercules Against the Moon Men.
  • Joel does not appear in the theater during the episode, despite being mentioned by Tom after the fourth host segment ends. In 2021, Joel stated that he was not invited to riff during the movie for his appearance.
  • In the first segment, Mike ends up running through two of the hallway doors on his way into the theater before falling over, similar to what Joel did during the third segment of Season 1's The Corpse Vanishes.
• Frank Conniff returns, making his first appearance since Season 6's Samson vs the Vampire Women.
• Ranked 18th in the Top 100 Episodes as chosen by backers of the Bring Back MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 campaign.

Callbacks

• The appearance of Joe Estevez prompts several callbacks to Werewolf, including the use of the word "yaniglachi" and "Aren’t you due on the set of Werewolf?"
  • In addition, the attire of the Soultakers prompts several references to Johnny Cash, a trend of which started back in Godzilla vs. Megalon.
• Second Banana Heaven (Samson vs. the Vampire Women)
• "Who are you?" (Fire Maidens of Outer Space)
• Joel landing in the Australian Outback at the end of Mitchell.

Running Jokes

• Joe Estevez's familial relations to Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.
• Referencing various musical groups popular during the 1980's.
  • Crow: "No....This would be more appropriate for a Thompson Twins concert."
  • Mike: "Must be the All-Whitesnake Station."
  • Crow: "The lead singer for Mr. Mister is concerned."

• Actress/screenwriter Vivian Schilling seemingly coming off as too self-loving with her own role.
• Natalie's partial resemblance to former figure skater Tonya Harding.
• Natalie's boyfriend Zack being more of a burnout/loser than her ideal love-interest.
• Mike & The Bots' various riffs on the movie's depiction of the afterlife.

Quotes and References

• "Welcome... to the Satellite of Love!"

Mike is imitating Richard Attenborough's delivery of a similar line he said as John Hammond in Jurassic Park.

• "Pearl! Pearl! Hello? Our wessel is malfunctioning!"

Mike is imitating Walter Koenig's faux-Russian accented Pavel Chekov, in particular one memorable scene from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

• "Johnny Cash! Johnny Cash! Johnny Cash!"

The country-western singer and actor Johnny Cash was known as "The Man in Black" because he often wore black overcoats similar to the Soultakers in the film.

• "Because you're mine, I walk the intensive care unit..."

This is a parody of the lyrics of Johnny Cash's 1956 song, "I Walk the Line": "Because you're mine, I walk the line."

• "I'm Ed Bradley." "I'm Steve Kroft." "I'm Leslie Stahl."

The opening sequence of 60 Minutes features the show's trademark, an Aristo stopwatch, as well as each of the current correspondents and hosts introducing themselves. Ed Bradley was a part-time correspondent (1976–1981) and a host (1981–2006) for the show, Steve Kroft was a host (1989–2019) and co-editor (2019), and Lesley Stahl is a host and co-editor (1991–present).

• "The death of Helmut Kohl!"

Helmut Kohl was the chancellor of Germany (originally West Germany) from 1982 to 1998.

• "The Sooooooooooooooouuuuultaker!"

This is a parody of the opening announcement on the show Soul Train.

• "Hey, Jim McMahon!"

Jim McMahon played for the Chicago Bears from 1982–1988. After his seven years in Chicago, he became a journeyman quarterback until his retirement in 1996. His last chance to be a full-time starter was with the Minnesota Vikings in 1993.

• "This would be more appropriate for a Thompson Twins concert."

Thompson Twins was a popular British pop group during the 1980's. They were best known for their hit songs "In The Name of Love" and "Hold Me Now."

• "That's Tonya Harding!!" "You're dead Nancy Kerrigan!!"

In 1994, former figure-skating champion Tonya Harding became the subject of much negative publicity and ridicule after a hired assailant by her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly hit rival figure skater Nancy Kerrigan in the leg with a police baton.

• "Must be the "All-Whitesnake" station"

Whitesnake is a British rock/metal band best known for their hit song "Here I Go Again."

• "Uh, let me wake up the rest of Menudo, hold on."

Menudo was one of the most popular Latin boy bands in history, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most successful Latin American teen musical group of the era and selling some 20 million records worldwide. The group's roster changed often as members aged.

• "Where's David Byrne's head?"

In the Talking Heads music video for their 1983 song "Burning Down the House", an image of lead singer David Byrne's face is projected onto a roadway from a moving vehicle.

• "Hey, by the way, do you wear your sunglasses at night, so you can, so you can, keep track of the visions in your dreams?"

"And I wear my sunglasses at night/So I can, so I can/Keep track of the visions in my eyes" are lyrics from the hit 1984 song "Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart.

• "Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry..."

Quoted from "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top", a song from the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!.

• "Hey, I really do walk the line!"

Another reference to the fact that Estevez's outfit makes him look like Johnny Cash, and to Cash's song, "I Walk the Line" (see above).

• "The lead singer for Mr. Mister is concerned!"

Crow comments on how Brad vaguely resembles Richard Page, lead vocalist of the 80's rock band Mr. Mister.

• "They are, in fact, traveling down the road, and they are, in fact, flirting with disaster!"

"I'm travelin' down the road/I'm flirtin' with disaster" is from the 1980 song "Flirtin' with Disaster" by the southern rock band Molly Hatchet.

• "Hope they didn't hurt their tight pants points, hardly renowned."

"Tight pants points, hardly renowned" is from the 1976 song "Night Moves" by Bob Seger.

• "Hey, it's Hamilton Jordan!"

Hamilton Jordan was the White House Chief of Staff during the Carter administration and was accused of cocaine use in a minor scandal.

• "Now I'll never win that set of steak knives."

A set of steak knives is the award for the second-best real estate salesman in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play and movie Glengarry Glen Ross written by David Mamet. The first place prize is a Cadillac El Dorado, and third place is being fired.

• "Frank Booth-cam!"

Frank Booth is the name of Dennis Hopper's character in the 1986 mystery thriller Blue Velvet.

• "Why, it's Harvey! Hi, Harvey!"

In the 1950 film adaptation of the stage play Harvey, Jimmy Stewart plays a man whose imaginary friend is a six-foot-tall rabbit named Harvey.

• "It's closing time." "Does that mean every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end?"

"Closing time, every new beginning/Comes from some other beginning's end" is from the 1998 ballad "Closing Time" by Semisonic.

• "My nephew was in The Mighty Ducks!"

The Mighty Ducks is a 1992 movie starring Emilio Estevez, Joe Estevez's nephew.

• (in a tiny voice) "Mother."

Signature line of Daffy Duck when faced with imminent catastrophe.

• "Ennio Morricone!"

Ennio Morricone was a prolific film composer best known for his Spaghetti Western scores.

• "I wanna thank you..." and "Do you feel like we do?"

Lines from the 1973 song "Do You Feel Like We Do" by Peter Frampton, which is best known for his utilization of a talk box, an effects unit that allows musicians to modify the sound of a musical instrument by shaping the frequency content of the sound and to apply speech sounds (in the same way as singing) onto the sounds of the instrument.

• "Zack is dead!" "That's what I said!"

"Freddie's dead/That's what I said" is from the song "Freddie's Dead" by Curtis Mayfield. It was the first single from his 1972 soundtrack album for the film Super Fly.

• "The band Man or Astro-man?"

Man or Astro-man? is a surf-rock band that recorded a cover of the MST3K Love Theme. Joel Hodgson joined them on stage to sing the song at a mid-1990s concert.

• Tom Servo advising Mike to not compare himself to Joel.

There were heated internet flame wars that occurred between fans when Mike replaced Joel as host. The debates often got vicious and ugly, though they have since faded within the community.

• "Prudential signs!"

Crow is commenting on the resemblance of the heart monitor's pattern to the logo of Prudential Financial, Inc., which is a simplified pictogram symbol of the Rock of Gibraltar.

• "Wheeling Captain Pike down the hall!"

A reference to the Star Trek episode "The Menagerie", in which Christopher Pike, the former captain of the Enterprise, uses a futuristic wheelchair.

• "David Byrne was right. Heaven is a place WHERE NOTHING EVER HAPPENS!"

"Heaven is a place/A place where nothing/Nothing ever happens" is from the 1979 song "Heaven" by Talking Heads. David Byrne was the band's lead singer and guitar player.

• "The Other Side of the Mountain... of Crap!"

The Other Side of the Mountain is a 1975 film based on a true story of ski racing champion Jill Kinmont. It follows Kinmont's difficult journey to recuperate after she is paralyzed from a near-fatal skiing accident. Her best friend suffers the same fate after contracting polio.

• "Unfortunately, it's Christine!"

Christine is a 1983 novel by Stephen King about a possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine that murders people. A film adaptation of the same name was released the same year.

Memorable Quotes

[All-black-clad Soultaker walks down the a hospital hallway, blinking in and out of the picture.]

Crow: Johnny Cash! Johnny Cash! Johnny Cash!

Mike [as Soultaker/Cash]: [singing to "I Walk the Line"] Because you're mine, I walk the intensive care unit.

[The Soultaker opens up a stopwatch, which ticks a la the opening sequence to 60 Minutes.]

Servo: I'm Ed Bradley...

Mike: I'm Steve Kroft...

Crow: I'm Lesley Stahl...

[The title card swoops into view.]

Servo [as Don Cornelius]: The SOUUUUUUUUUUUUULTAKER!

[Natalie is getting dressed for Summerfest.]

Crow: That's not Natalie, that's Tonya Harding!

. . .

[A grooming Natalie appraises herself in the mirror.]

Crow [as Natalie/Tonya]: You're dead, Nancy Kerrigan!

[some jokes about Brad's car]

Crow: Ugh, that car must reek of Arby's!

. . .

Mike: I'll bet whoever had that car after him never got the smell of Marlboro Lights and Hardee's out of the upholstery!

[As Karen drives off with her uniformed Navy boyfriend, Natalie tries to call her back.]

Natalie: Karen!

Mike [as Karen]: Sorry! Love is lifting me up where I belong!

. . .

[Natalie stomps in frustration.]

Crow [as Natalie/Tonya]: The lace on my skate broke!

. . .

[Zack comes up behind Natalie and startles her. As she spins around…]

Crow [as Natalie/Tonya]: Jeff Gillooly did it!

[A close-up of the Soultaker (played by Joe Estevez) standing at the end of a road, awaiting the oncoming car Natalie and Zach are in.]

Crow [as Soultaker/Estevez]: Hi folks, you may be wondering if I'm Martin Sheen. Well, I'm not. Turns out I'm his vastly more talented, yet less appreciated brother. Thank you.

[A prolonged still shot of a tree as the speeding car approaches.]

Mike [as tree]: Hi. I'm a tree. Just wanted to put in a good word or two in for nature since the camera's on me. Thanks for your time.

[Natalie et al have been thrown from the crashed car, and she appears dead on the ground.]

Mike: She's survived by her Danskins.

. . .

[Natalie dizzily gets to her feet after the crash.]

Servo [as Natalie/Tonya]: Whoa! Triple Salchow really takes it out of you!

[The Soultaker bears down on Tommy in a convenience store.]

Tommy: What do you want?

Crow [as Soultaker/Estevez]: Do you have a phone, so I can call Martin to take over my role?

[The Soultaker hovers over Tommy, preparing to take his soul]

The Soultaker: [ominously] It's closing time!

Servo: Does that mean that every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end?

[At Summerfest, Tommy randomly goes up to a woman and kisses her on the lips.]

Tommy: Thanks!

[The woman laughs it off.]

Mike [as Woman]: I just got assaulted, it's fun!

[At a bus stop, Natalie (played by screenwriter Vivian Schilling) freaks about her mother at home with the Soultaker.]

Natalie: My mom! He's done something to my mom!

Zach: No, no—your mom is fine! She's at the hospital.

Natalie: What?

Mike [as Zach/Actor]: Hey, look—you wrote this crap!

[Natalie lies unconscious in a hospital bed, respirator in mouth.]

Mike: [singing in Peter Frampton/talkbox voice] I wanna thank you.

[Zach's friend Brad, now a Soultaker himself, is explaining the Afterlife to Zach.]

Brad: You still haven't figured it out, have you, man?

Crow: We have! Can we go?!

[The Soultaker confronts Zach at the hospital rooftop edge after a long chase scene.]

Crow [as Soultaker]: Muhuhahahahaha! You're it!

Soultaker: It's all over now.

Servo: Oh, ho, I wish that were true!

Video Release

• 

  MST3K DVD Cover

  Commercially released on DVD by Shout! Factory in February 2009 as part of The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume 14, a 4-DVD set with The Mad Monster, Manhunt in Space, and Final Justice. This set has been out of print since 2016.
  • The DVD includes a special feature, the Joe Estevez on MST3K interview.

.

References

preceded by: Season 9		MST3K Season 10					followed by: Season 11
		1999
1001	Soultaker	1999-04-11	1006	Boggy Creek II	1999-05-09	1011	Horrors of Spider Island	1999-07-25
1002	Girl in Gold Boots	1999-04-18	1007	Track of the Moon Beast	1999-06-13	1012	Squirm	1999-08-01
1003	Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders	1999-09-18	1008	Final Justice	1999-06-20	1013	Diabolik	1999-08-08
1004	Future War	1999-04-25	1009	Hamlet	1999-06-27
1005	Blood Waters of Dr. Z	1999-05-02	1010	It Lives by Night	1999-07-18