Product Details

• Actors: Dawn Bender, Billy Bridges, Don Chambers, James Conklin, Don DeClue
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Victory Multimedia
• VHS Release Date: April 22, 1992
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302428165
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,221 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In this pulp science-fiction film, a flying saucer full of aliens of a "Superior Race" lands on Earth, searching for grazing grounds for their Gargon cattle. One of the aliens uses a ray gun to kill a curious dog ("They blast the flesh off humans!"). Rebellious Derek inspects Sparky's dog tag and realizes that civilized beings inhabit the planet. He begs his companions to consider the rights of the people of Earth, but the other crewmen turn on him. They leave one of the lobster-like Gargon chained inside of a cave, make responsible Thor hunt down the escaping Derek, and return to their home planet to fetch herds of Gargon.

While Derek befriends Betty, Gramps, and Joe in the nearest suburban utopia, Thor's relentless manhunt results in numerous blasted skeletons and abductions. The fun really gets going when the now gigantic Gargon escapes its chains and goes on a murderous rampage. Spunky Betty begins a romance with Derek, who promises to make Earth his home. Reporter Joe is hot on the trail of the double-murder story that grows into something really big. Teenagers from Outer Space sports primitive special effects and almost-bad acting, but really they just add to the angsty fun of this 1959 flick.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some Kind of Strange Masterpiece, June 13, 2001

By 

mackjay (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teenagers from Outer Space (DVD)

Tom Graeff's "Teenagers From Outer Space" is some kind of strange, perhaps accidental masterpiece. How did such a low-budget effort,using unknown (mostly untalented) actors wind up being so entertaining?

One big reason for this movie's 'success' is its pulp sci-fi look and feel. Watching it is like reading a 1950s sci-fi comic book, or like reading a sci-fi short story from the same period. The pulp look derives from the costumes and choice of locations used, as well as that of the monster "Gargan". A pulp feel results from the fast pace (actually rare in the sci-fi B-movie genre), some surprising violence, and the earnest, if inept, acting style.

A few scenes betray Tom Graeff's directorial talent: the laser gun attacks at the gas station, and especially, the unexpectedly effective car chase. These may frustrate some viewers; they suggest how much "better" the film might have been. But for some, they are balanced by the wonderfully comatose performance of the lead actor and the ludicrous spectacle of the "Gargan".

The DVD issue of "Teenagers From Outer Space" deserves a top recommendation. The film transfer is clear and rather impressive, the sound more than adequate. Inside the colorful keepcase there is a really informative essay. Another big plus is the collection of original trailers for other films in the B-Sci-Fi genre, most of which are in fine shape and--in some cases--are more interesting than the films themselves. Included here is, fortunately, the rarely seen trailer for "Teenagers From Outer Space": the wondrous film that includes NO teenage actors, but will entertain generations to come.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars four giant-lobster stars, March 11, 2001

By 

Blue Frog "bluefrog" (California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Teenagers from Outer Space (DVD)

Derek, a rebel teenager from outer space, strays from his alien pack when he finds that the men of his saucer will release their herd of Gorgons (giant lobsters) on Earth, at the expense of human life. Stumbling into town in his spacesuit, he quickly finds a room for rent (the landlord says he can just "pay later" if he doesn't have the cash immediately... try doing that in California nowadays). Enter the "bad" (albeit really cute) teen alien, who attempts to recapture Derek and return him to his own world.

There are two scenes worthy of hearty praise in this fine film.

I was very fond of the scene in which Derek single-handedly fights the Gorgon (aka the giant lobster). The lobsters - er, Gorgons - don't really crawl anywhere more than they seem to be held and shook off-screen; this was no doubt expertly performed by an imported British nanny.

Another superior scene is when the dishy, oversexed blonde in the swimming pool gives the "teen" alien Derek the up-and-down and invites him into the pool with her (and who wouldn't?). This woman could have won an Oscar for this performance, particularly when she gets zapped by the alien's raygun and turns instantly into bones. Now that's acting. I doubt there are many, if any, actresses in Hollywood today who can turn into bones on demand like that.

But outside of the many meaningful performances one will find here can be found the unique aesthetic vision of the director. It's here you'll find a world chock full of pomaded hair on cute '50s boys, great shots of vintage automobiles whizzing hither and tither, and giant alien crustaceans. And what a world it is -- sort of like a space-age, suburban Bali Hai, but located in the outskirts of Baltimore circa 1959.

I was so awed by this masterpiece that I created a cocktail for viewers to consume while watching the film. It's called the Teenagers from Outer Space Cocktail, and is made up of: 1 cup pineapple juice, 1/3 cup coconut rum, and a dash of Blue Curacao. Serve over ice, and garnish with a plastic lobster.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pristine print showcases jaw-slackening Bad Film classic, November 11, 2001

By 

Surfink "Surfink" (Racine, WI) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Teenagers from Outer Space (DVD)

I'd been waiting to see this movie for years (somehow it's never played on TV in the Chicagoland area), and after reading some of the other reviews here my expectations were high. I am not disappointed. 'Teenagers' starts off a little slow, but stick with it; the absurdities pile up steadily until the completely ludicrous finish causes your lower jaw to drop open in amazement. It actually gets better with each viewing. Some of my favorite cheese factors: the alien analyzer machine clearly labeled "multichannel mixer"; the Fabio and Harry Chronic-lookalike aliens; the heroine's salacious hag of a girlfriend; the so-cliched-he's-brilliant TV newscaster; and the disorienting effect of hearing the 'scary' music cues from Night of the Living Dead in this context. Plus, whenever someone gets zapped, their skeleton is curiously held together with metal clips; the high-tech aliens are extremely dependent on human automobiles for getting around; and at bottom the story is really a soppy romance peopled with Mayberry and Mayfield refugees. All alien/hero Derek really wants is a home and family! And of course there's the Gargan; you have to admire their chutzpah and utter shamelessness in using the silhouette of a crayfish (not the actual crayfish mind you!) for their monster. There's something quite Ed Woodian about the whole thing; the naive enthusiasm of the cast, the non-sequitur dialogue, the poverty-stricken effects. Hour of fun for the bad movie connoisseur!
Ironically, Image's DVD presents the film in as pristine a state as could possibly be expected. The tonal values, sharpness, and detail are excellent, and you have to really watch closely to see any speckling or blemishing. The chapter stops are on the main menu, and a trailer for 'Teenagers' is included, as well as five of the same handful of trailers that are on other similar Image releases. Informative production notes are on the box. A solid entertainment value at the price.