Customer Reviews

Strange Invaders

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Both an entertaining sci-fi spoof and a satisfying example of the genre in and of itself. Searching for his missing ex-wife, hero Paul LeMat travels to her hometown of Centerville (aka "Anytown, USA"), where everyone seems a bit odd, and nothing seems to have changed much since 1958. Could the town have been taken over ... by aliens?! That laser-beaming finger might be a clue! Let the scary but good-natured fun begin. Genre fans will want to watch closely for the many homages to films and TV series from the 1950's through the early 1980's including "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", "Lost in Space" (June Lockhart and Mark Goddard have small roles), "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", and dozens more. Other viewers may want to simply concentrate on the fine performances of LeMat, Louise Fletcher, Michael Lerner, Wallace Shawn, and especially leading lady Nancy Allen whose uniquely sassy charm serves the film well. The strangest performance is given by Diana Scarwid, who plays LeMat's ex-wife; she recites her lines in the same flat, sing-song voice that she used to play the adult Christina Crawford in "Mommie Dearest", and while her tone is distractingly obnoxious, she's impossible to dislike.

The widescreen DVD presentation, though not anamorphic, is completely acceptable and beautifully showcases the often gorgeous cinematography. The sound and video tranfers are fine, although the source print does seem a bit grainy near the beginning of the movie. Extras include a director's commentary and the Original Theatrical Trailer. Overall, a very nice edition of a film that deservedly enjoys a small - but loyal - cult following.

The movie Strange Invaders has been a favorite since I saw it in the early 80's on HBO. The movie, re-released for purchase for the first time since its original release in 1984, heralds very special effects (amazing even by the standards of the new millenium).

This homage to the 1950's martian classics brings together a great cast: Nancy Allen brings a great deal of depth to her role as Betty Walker, the tabloid reporter hot on the trail of the clandestine "visitors". Other actresses may have faltered considereing the circumstances, but Allen takes the ball and runs with it. Her solid performance adds the extra initiative that the viewer needs to actually care what happens to the cast. Paul LeMat, although a usual favorite, plays his role as Charles Bigelow a bit too stiff but for the most gives an impressive performance. Oscar nominees Diana Scarwid (as Margaret, Charlie's alien ex-wife and mother of their child) and Michael Lerner (as Willie, the now-locked-up key to understanding why the aliens are here on earth) co-star with One Flew Over the Kookoo's Nest Oscar Winner Louise Flether, who seems disgusted that after winning an Academy Award, her agent allowed her to get fifth billing in Strange Invaders.

The great special effects, chillingly memorable score, tongue-in-cheek humor mixed with genuine thrills and the great performances (most notably the wonderful Nancy Allen who has been stuck in supporting roles in recent flicks like Steven Soderberg's Clooney-Lopez hit Out Of Sight and the Christopher Walken-Michael Rappaport mafia comedy Kiss Toledo Goodbye)

Yes, it IS Strange, but campy good fun, too. Now MGM just needs to release this on DVD and all will be good....strange, but good.

A well-intentioned sci-fi romp that suffers a bit due to an indecisive director.He starts out with a campy, affectionate spoof of 50's sci-fi films (a la "Matinee"); but at midpoint does a 180 degree spin and gets "serious". In spite of this problem,the appealing performers hold your interest. Paul LeMat is an etymologist (who should have looked closer at his ex-wife's anatomy!)and Nancy Allen is the "Weekly World News"-type writer who joins him on an "X-Files" style investigation. There are some very funny bits, especially involving an Avon lady (who redefines the concept of "doing a face peel"). You'll have to look fast for a clever visual gag involving Steven Spielberg's photo. There's enough quirky charm here to even forgive the scene showing someone playing a video arcade game (in the 1950's?!).Note of irony: a subplot involving LeMat's daughter eerily pre-sages the Elian Gonzales situation (talk about an illegal alien!) Mostly harmless.

I'm sure many of us have had a sinking suspicion at one time or another that aliens have possibly been among us for awhile (you can't tell me that creepy guy who lives down the street from you is of this Earth), having insinuated themselves among our society, perhaps even cross breeding with our species, but few films really had the guts to relate the situation like that of Strange Invaders (1983), the film the aliens, and the gooberment, didn't want you to see...directed by Michael Laughlin (Strange Behavior) and co-written by Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Kinsey), the film stars Paul Le Mat (American Graffiti, Melvin and Howard) and Nancy Allen (Carrie, Dressed to Kill, RoboCop). Also appearing is Diana `no wire hangers' Scarwid (Mommie Dearest, Silkwood), Michael Lerner (Eight Men Out, Barton Fink), Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Brainstorm), Fiona Lewis (The Fearless Vampire Killers, Tintorera), and Kenneth Tobey (The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, It Came from Beneath the Sea), probably best known for his role as Captain Patrick Hendry in Howard Hawks 1951 science fiction classic The Thing from Another World...and keep and eye out for a couple of "Lost in Space" regulars in June `Maureen Robinson' Lockhart and Mark `Major Don West' Goddard in bit parts.

As the film begins it's the year 1958 and we find ourselves in the small, rural town of Centerville, Il. After some establishing shots we soon see a giant space phallus appear in the sky, heralding the arrival of non-indigenous life forms (I hope they brought some moon candy)...fast forward 25 years later and now we're in New York City attending a lecture on bugs hosted by professor of entomology Charles Bigelow (Le Mat). After the class Charles gets word from his ex-wife Margaret (Scarwid) that she has to return to her hometown of Centerville for personal business (a funeral), and Charles has to watch their daughter Elizabeth. After losing contact with Margaret (woo hoo, no more alimony checks!), Charles heads to Centerville to try and find her, which he doesn't, but he does find a whole lot of trouble as the aliens who took up residence so long ago, now posing as humans, give him (and his car) the business. Charles manages to escape and return to New York, but no one believes his fantastic tale, including Mrs. Benjamin (Fletcher), a gooberment bigwig with the National Center for U.F.O. Studies. After seeing a picture in a tabloid rag of a similar alien he saw back in Centerville, Charles contacts the reporter, named Betty Walker (Allen), who wrote the story, but it turns out it was all baloney, and the picture used just was one pulled from the files, received many years ago by some supposed crackpot. After some bizarre incidents (seems the aliens hopped a bus east and have been keeping tabs on Charles) including the return of Margaret and the kidnapping of Elizabeth, Charles and Betty head to Illinois to contact the person who originally took the picture in hopes of getting a lead on Charles' missing daughter, which eventually leads the pair into a conspiracy of epic proportions...

Being somewhat of an aficionado of classic science fiction films I found this feature to be fairly enjoyable given how much it had in common to those older films of yesteryear. The pacing of the film can be off at times, and the story uneven at points, but overall, taken in the right context, it's just a whole lot of fun. Paul Le Mat seemed an odd choice for the lead, as I've always thought he did better in more character driven roles like that of the film Melvin and Howard, but I thought Nancy Allen was dead on in her part as the streetwise, somewhat skeptical rag journalist, who apparently has a real affinity for kooks given how quickly she hooked up with Le Mat's character. Incidentally, I think Miss Allen was going through a `braless' phase here, as I haven't seen so much bounce since the last NCAA Final Four tournament. I was sort of puzzled by the end of the movie why so much emphasis was placed on Le Mat's character's profession, as it didn't play much of a part in the overall plot, but whatever...as far as the others, Louise Fletcher has a few scenes in the film, but not much comes of her role, which was too bad as I thought she could have added a lot more and Diana Scarwid does well enough in her part, although every time I saw her I kept expecting someone to pop out and whip her silly with a wire hanger (it had been a brief two years earlier when she appeared with Faye Dunaway in the career killer/cult classic Mommie Dearest). Both Kenneth Tobey and Fiona Lewis pop in and out of the picture, imparting very few lines but certainly passing themselves off admirably as human guised aliens determined to complete their mission, whatever the heck it was...there are specifics within the plot that are never really fully defined, but there is a scene near the end, as the aliens are gathering for some big event, where the head google-eyed space dude fills us in on some generalities towards the reasoning for their occupation, which, in my mind, was sufficient enough. I thought the special effects were decent as far as the true appearance of the aliens (there was a lengthy sequence involving an alien ripping of his fleshy, human covering from his head), and the various mental abilities they possessed, the most spectacular being able to shoot lighting from their fingertips (that'd be fun at a party). All in all I thought this was a fairly entertaining and respective tribute to science fiction features of the past, despite its' unevenness at times, worthy at least 3 ? stars.

The picture quality, presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1), looks decent, even though it appears the film was originally shot with some type of diffuse filter, the effect being to soften the images. As far as the Dolby Digital mono audio, I thought it was slightly lacking, as it seemed the music was mixed louder than the dialog. There were times when I could barely discern what was being said, but I think this has more to do with the way the audio was originally recorded and/or processed, and not a flaw in the transfer. In terms of extras there's a theatrical trailer, French and Spanish subtitles, and an audio commentary track with the director Michael Laughlin (who also co-wrote the film) and writer Bill Condon. If you're interested in this release, I'd recommend searching out the double feature DVD release, also put out by MGM, which includes the feature Invaders from Mars (1986) as it's probably a better deal, especially if you own neither.

Cookieman108

A movie that is a homage and spoof of the alien movies that have been popular since the 1950s, STRANGE INVADERS begins in small Illinois town during the summer of 1958. People are worried about Communism and Elvis Presley is taking radio and television by storm. Then some strange lights appear and it's like that 1956 movie, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHER. Fast forward twenty-five years later, and Charles Bigelow's (Paul LeMat) wife disappears. He suspects she returned to her hometown--the same town at the beginning of the movie--and he travels there to try to find her. Things haven't changed a bit in that place: the cars look like they are from 1958, the people dress like they're from 1958, and none of the buildings look any more modern than 1958. Oh, and no one has heard of Charlie's wife. Then his dog mysteriously disappears. Charlie decides to finally leave the town, but he has car problems. The local mechanic says he can fix it, but it'll take a few hours. But as those hours go by, it becomes clear that the locals don't like outsiders at all and they intend to do something to Charlie, perhaps something very bad. He's able to escape, but not before he's shot at by lasers and runs into a humanoid with the face of a giant insect. Charlie could be crazy, but he's an entomologist and knows an insect when he sees one. He sees a picture of that same bug-face in a newspaper and searches out the reporter, Betty Walker (Nancy Allen) who printed the piece. At first she thinks he's a quack, but after a harrowing encounter with an Avon lady, she realizes Charlie is telling the truth. She joins together with Charlie and together they set out to find exactly what has happened to his wife.

STRANGE INVADERS is a fun, little movie. The writing and acting aren't the greatest, but they get the job done. For me the best part of the movie was trying to figure out how many older movies and tv shows that the film was paying homage to or spoofing. Everything from INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS to CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND gets a nod and June Lockhart and Mark Goddard from the tv show LOST IN SPACE have smaller roles in the film as well as Kenneth Tobey from THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD. Also, watch for Wallace Shawn in a small role as a landlord. The movie starts off kind of light-hearted, then turns serious about a quarter of the way in, and finally turns light-hearted again just before the end. It's not a great film, but it is a fun one with just the right mix of humor, suspense, and sci-fi action.

The only extras on the DVD are an audio commentary with the writer and director and the original movie trailer.

It's difficult to dislike "Strange Invaders," a jovial 1983 tribute to those wonderful science fiction classics of the 1950s. One of its greatest attributes is a stellar cast of actors, bouncing through the ridiculous proceedings with a slight smirk. But it's a clunky film, lacking the necessary zip of a truly competent work. I struggled with the poorly edited scenes and the overall low-budget quality, though much of this was intentional. I thought the film lacked the necessary atmosphere to be truly memorable. The bumbling scenes have an independent quality reminiscent of cult favorites Liquid Sky and Eating Raoul, though without their deviant wit.

If you're going to spoof such unforgettable classics as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, you better have a small town with personality. It also helps the play the game with a straight face, which "Strange Invaders" rarely does. Should we forgive the film's faults or is it a way to camouflage lazy filmmaking? Most of the action takes place in Centerville, USA, a rural town without a smidgen of character. It appears to have a diner and rooming house (no motel?). It can only be reached by a dirt road crossing a railroad track. After what appears to be a 1950's alien invasion during the prologue, with special effects only Ed Wood could love, it's now reduced to a modern day ghost town.

Our hero is New York college professor Charles Bigelow, played by none other than Paul Le Mat (yes, the man who gave the greatest performance in history not to be nominated for an Oscar in American Graffiti). His ex-wife has disappeared, and through a bit of investigation, he's arrived at the eerie Centerville locale. Somewhere along the way he meets a tabloid reporter (Nancy Allen), a UFO investigator (Louise Fletcher) and a broken down Centerville survivor (Michael Lerner). The aliens fire death rays from their fingers, akin to Susan Strasberg during the infamous concluding scene in The Manitou. There's even cameos by June Lockhart, Mark Goddard (of Lost in Space - The Complete First Season fame), Charles Lane and Kenneth Tobey. So, we have a busy Joe Dante (Matinee, Eerie, Indiana - The Complete Series) hybrid minus his exceptional skill.

The beauty of It Came From Outer Space, which this film most closely resembles, is it was actually scary. To this day when watching the film (and others from this era The Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection, Vols. 1 & 2), there's marvelous suspense and atmosphere and you can kick back with the kids and have a good time. "Strange Invaders" is strictly an awkward comedy. There's a couple of gross out scenes, but not a single moment of suspense or horror. In many ways, "Strange Invaders" is a perfect example of the slow erosion of classic filmmaking. I suppose it's hip. I guess it has its tongue planted firmly in cheek. But timeless craft was on display in the great science fictions of the 1950s, not to mention the incredible talent of Robert Wise, Howard Hawks, Jack Arnold and Don Siegel. If you're going to spoof these great directors, you better have more than average skill.

Did you ever watch a film as a kid and see images you'll never forget, but have no idea what the friggin' movie was called? Sure, it's happened to most of us. When I was about six years old, I was watching HBO(of course) at about 5 in the morning and saw a little boy laying in bed with a brownish alien in overalls standing over him. The alien put his hand on the boy and the poor kid shriveled up like a prune and turned into a glowing ball of blue light. Scared the hell outta me. This image stayed with me for years, and I watched about every alien invasion film trying to find out what the hell the name of this movie was.
Well, in 2001, MGM put out Strange Invaders as part of their Midnite Movies collection. I watched it and guess what I saw?? The shriveled boy didn't have the same effect through adult eyes, but it's still rather gruesome and disturbing for a PG rated film. I've seen the film about four or five times since it's DVD release, and I'm surprised it's not a bigger cult hit.
In the movie, aliens invade Centerville, Illinois in 1958 to study the human race. Entomologist, Charles(Paul Le Mat, who we all know from The Puppet Master) married a woman from Centerville, Margaret(Diana Scarwid, the hot nun from Psycho 3), and had a daughter, Elizabeth. When Margaret is summoned from New York back to Centerville, Charles goes on a search for her when she seemingly disappears. He discovers a town stuck in the 1950s, with odd folks who don't seem to care for his presence. He's also attacked by an alien! Going back to New York, he tries to convince anyone about what he saw, but naturally no one believes him. No one except a shady government agent played by Louise Fletcher, and a tabloid reporter played by the yummy Nancy Allen. The aliens follow Charles to New York to kidnap his daughter, Elizabeth, who they want to return home with them. Now Charles and his new girlfriend head back to Centerville to get Elizabeth back. Joining them is Michael Lerner, a guy who had a run in with the aliens years before(and the unfortunate father of the shriveled prune boy). Together they try to pull off a rescue and escape the clutches of the Strange Invaders.
I have to say that for this kind of film, the whole thing is pretty above average. It's good with the suspense and mystery, the story is interesting, the aliens look good, and the effects aren't all that bad either. Though a B film, and a nod to 50s sci-fi flicks, the tone is actually more serious than campy. But for the most part, it actually does work. I am a bit surprised that the movie isn't more well known.
I'd certainly recommend this to folks who dig alien invasion movies and B sci-fi in general. Be on the lookout for Wallace"Inconceivable!"Shawn and June Lockhart in tiny roles.

An ode to 1950's horror flicks involving aliens revamped for the 80s. The best parts of the movie are definitely the make-up effects unfortunately everything else leaves a lot to be desired: The characters are pretty one dimensional, the special effects are limited (though the scenes that are shot with the saucer and lasers coming out of the aliens head's are good). I remember Siskel and Ebert giving this a thumbs down for a couple of good reasons like the story itself and some of special effects. The movie takes place in Centerville twenty-five years after another invasion in the 1950s.

It's an ok movie if you want to relive those 50s, 60s flicks about aliens without much gore and violence. Nancy Allen's character as the tabloid reporter for the National Informer or whatever is called is a bit unbelievable (not too mention she is very "loose" toward men). Paul Le Mat as Charles Bigelow is a mixed bag. As Ebert said he is very much deadpan in the movie then again his character is a divorcee in the works whose not meant to be a hero. The aliens while menacing once we see their inner alien shell are also rather clumsy often not noticing that they might expose themselves. Then again as Mrs. Benjamin (Louise Fletcher) says the government and the aliens have learned to live amongst themselves. Also since this movie besides being an ode to those alien flicks is also a spoof there would be seem to be no real payoff as we've seen these type of flicks before. Director Michael Laughlin only directed another movie after this and it's not hard to figure out why. One source list Invaders as a flop which definitely hurt the guy's chances at making another movie. Allegedly the plan was for three films based on "Strange Trilogy".

I think for me seeing those black and white alien flicks might have expected a bit more in the effects and the gore department and definitely much more of a darker edge. Still though if you are into alien movies and you haven't seen this one it's definitely worth a rental.

I grew up watching all the old classic black and white sci-fi films on TV. Those movies seemed so scary to me back then.

I was still a youngster (12 to be exact) when I saw this film at the theater and it instantly reminded me of those old sci-fi films. Now, I'm 37 and I'm seeing the film again for the first time in many, many years.

All I can say is that it's a refreshing change from all of the crap that Hollywood has been forcing down our throats for the past 15 years or so. What all of these so-called blockbusters can't do on a $[...] million budget, Strange Invaders does on shoestring budget. Yes, Strange Invaders is a B-movie. The effects are sort of cheesy, the actors are a bit too dramatic, but this movie is FUN!

The entire film is shot with a slight haze to it to give the impression that it's old. The music sounds EXACTLY like the classic scores of the old sci-fi films of the '50s and the plot is actually pretty good, if not a bit outlandish.

Strange Invaders has a retro-feel to it and is a lot of fun if you don't take it too seriously. Even the kiddies will like this one, but some of the alien effects are somewhat gruesome in certain scenes.

Give this movie a try. For the price it's going for, you can't go wrong.

I remember seeing this movie back in the early eighties...and it was a really good one, with lots of wierd imagery and unexpected scenes. After a while, they didn't show it any more, and I couldn't ever find it on video until now...which made me buy it as soon as I could...and I loved it all the more! I recommend this movie to anyone who likes a sci-fi movie with unexpected twists.