Strange Invaders (1983)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Michael Laughlin

Writers:

Bill Condon (story) &
Michael Laughlin (story) ...

Release Date:

16 September 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

25 Years Ago They Arrived From Another Galaxy. Surprise--They're Still Here.

Plot:

Charlie's ex-wife disappears, and he goes to where she grew up--a rural town in the midwest--to look for her...

Plot Keywords:

Alien | UFO | Alien Abduction | Return | Invasion

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Paul Le Mat	...	Charles Bigelow
Nancy Allen	...	Betty Walker
Diana Scarwid	...	Margaret
Michael Lerner	...	Willie Collins
Louise Fletcher	...	Mrs. Benjamin
Wallace Shawn	...	Earl
Fiona Lewis	...	Waitress / Avon Lady
Kenneth Tobey	...	Arthur Newman
June Lockhart	...	Mrs. Bigelow
Charles Lane	...	Prof. Hollister
Lulu Sylbert	...	Elizabeth
Joel Cohen	...	Tim
Dan Shor	...	Teen Boy in Prologue
Dey Young	...	Teen Girl in Prologue
Jack Kehler	...	Gas Station Attendant

Runtime:

UK:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:PG | Norway:15 (video premiere) | UK:12 | USA:PG

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

Two stars from the cult classic sci-fi series "Lost in Space", Mark Goddard and June Lockhart, appear in this film, which is a homage to cult sci-fi.

Goofs:

Continuity: The red truck at the beginning of the movie that has the teenage couple in it keeps changing. The wooden side rails on the truck box disappear and reappear.

Quotes:

Betty Walker: Earl, a strange woman has locked herself in my bathroom and won't come out
Earl: Well, Betty, how did she get in there?
Betty Walker: I let her in, Earl.
Earl: I guess I'll check it out.

Movie Connections:

References "Toast of the Town" (1948)

Soundtrack:

1,000,000

Fun 80's treat for fans of nostalgic 50's Sci-Fi.

"Strange Invaders" is a cheerful and likable 80's movie, regretfully forgotten these days because nowadays audiences don't understand the charm and inside jokes of authentic "Alien Invaders"-science fiction from the 1950's. This movie is one giant spoof/tribute to wonderful films such as "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "Invaders from Mars", but the screenplay is intelligent enough to add new and surprisingly original twists of its own. We have the typical remote American town – Centerville, Illinois – getting colonized by hideous aliens that take over the identities of the locals and examine the earthly life-style in the meantime. The ingenious elements in the script are, however, that this whole invasion-project was seemly approved by the government AND that the aliens never evolved after they landed on our planet. Centerville still looks like a swinging 50's town, with jukeboxes, old cars and traditional dress codes. University professor Charles Bigelow teams up with a gossip-journalist Betty Walker to investigate the town's bizarre secret. "Strange Invaders" is well-directed by Michael Laughlin ("Dead Kids") and cleverly co-written by Bill Condon. There's very few gore, which is a good thing, but the special effects are definitely not bad with a couple of adorable space-ship designs and the aliens' inventive method to "cristalyze" people. The acting performances are vivid, with Paul LeMat ("American Graffiti) and Nancy Allen ("Carrie", "Dressed to Kill"). The supportive cast is even better with spirited roles from Michael Lerner, Diana Scarwid and the wonderful Louise Fletcher, once again as the mean shrew. The happy-ending is somewhat lame and far too Disney/Steven Spielberg-like, but I suppose that's forgivable. Good, cheesy and nostalgic 80's entertainment.