William Castle directed this fantasy comedy that stars Tom Poston(later costar on the "Newhart" TV series) as college professor Jonathan Jones, a teacher of ancient languages that comes into possession of a magic(!) coin that has three powers: to inflict pain, to slow down, or to kill, depending how you use the coin and pronounce "Zotz!". Problems arise when Soviet spies get wind of it, and plot to steal the coin, no matter the cost...awful film is both unfunny and stupid. Tom Poston makes a most unlikely heroic lead, and actors like Jim Backus and Cecil Kellaway are wasted. A profound disappointment from Castle, and an instantly forgettable film.

I was 5 years old when this movie hit the theater but i remember seeing in in the mid to late 60s. Kids back then treated this movie as if it were a major Disney production. Even as young as we were, we still recognized it as being a well-made movie. Not a cheap B movie with hokey effects, although now it seems more campy. The real star of the show was the ZOTZ coin. All us kids wanted one. When this movie initially was released, free replica ZOTZ coins were given to the first few hundred people that saw the movie. I was lucky enough to come across one on Ebay once. I have it hanging on my wall with all my other movie replica stuff. Anyway, ZOTZ finally made it to DVD. It was released October 20, 2009 as a part of a 5-disc William Castle set. If you have Netflix you can order each individual disc. The set includes: 13 Frightened Girls / 13 Ghosts / Homicidal / Strait-Jacket / The Old Dark House / Mr. Sardonicus / The Tingler / Zotz!). You can get it on Amazon.com or Ebay...just about anywhere.

I own an original copy of this movie on VHS and a copy of Walter Karig's book of the same title. They are both little treasures and should be enjoyed when they are available to you.Karig's book is a satirical little allegory and ends in a manner quite unlike the movie. I don't want to give away the ending of either, but I can assure you that you will enjoy reading the book even if you have already seen the movie (and vice-versa.) I will warn you, though, that the ending in the book is NOT necessarily a happy one.As for the movie, it is indeed a departure from the norm for William Castle, but he dabbled in comedy in several other movies, so it is not THAT out of character. After all, the movie deals with what are essentially supernatural forces.Contrary to what some other reviewers have written, I would argue that this move is much closer in tone to Disney's "Absent-Minded Professor" movies. There are the usual bumbling academics, the sexy-but-safe women, the well-meaning but suspicious Federal agents, the vaguely- threatening-but-incompetent foreign agents, and the likable and innocent hero. When the day is done, the hero defeats the villains, the self-righteous get their comeuppance, the girl gets the guy, and the "secret" is lost again...maybe.The FX are about average for B-movies of that period. As a kid, I was astonished, but they definitely show their age when I watch it now.I really think that kids today would enjoy seeing this movie. Give it a chance, if you get one. This is one rare movie to find on tape.

William Castle's production of Zotz! is an engaging juvenile comedy featuring likeable Tom Poston as a fellow who comes across a coin that has magical powers, which in due time becomes a matter of interest to Soviet agents. The movie was heavily hyped for kids when first released, and pleased audiences at the time. Now it plays like a Disney version of an Ealing comedy, such as The Man In the White Suit, which it vaguely resembles, with Poston in the Alec Guinness role. This was an odd project for Castle, better known as a producer of horror movies, though it's pleasant enough if one is in an undemanding mood.