I didn’t know what to expect, and after watching it, don’t know what they were trying to do. There were many small town stereotypes. You had the minister who seemed not to know scripture, and frankly was a bit lost. And for 1938, I really doubt there would have been a black family in central New Jersey, and the minister showed some racism initially. But that family was a strong family, and were one of the better families in the town. The mayor was a timid person, and the soldier was a rough and ready WWI Doughboy, ready to lead the defense of the town. Only the start of the broadcast was noted, and the rest of the movie dwelt on some stereotypes of a small town, with some of the people being very dense. Many seemed to live very sad lives, but the depression was not over. As the movie progressed, the preacher seemed to find a calling. It seemed the movie alternated between being very boring and showing very human people coping with the unknown. Probably a very typical poor small farming town near the end of the depression, where education was not prime for most. They need community to get along with their daily lives. Hence the church and the store for gatherings. If they were trying for humor when the townspeople made their charge, I felt that fell flat. I was really hoping for more.

This film is a deliberate exaggeration of small town innocence and naivete. The radio induced panic serves to pressurize conventional relationships. Pressure precipitating the unraveling of many social stereotypes: the apocalyptic preacher, the failed rural industrialist, the repressed schoolmarm and the cigarette smoking bad boy-- all for tragicomic effect. But, as with any work of ingenious creativity, the typical viewer expecting something believable will be sorely disappointed. Hence, few people come away with modest approval of this film. You'll either love it or hate it. If you love Tarantino (minus the blood lust) this is right up your alley. Don't expect any Disney morals or Jimmy Stewart earnestness-- this is a send-up of all that.

A version of the War of the Worlds broadcast as seen through the eyes of a small farming town in New Jersey. The residents get ready to fight off the invading Martians. A good, clean movie to watch. It shows how the coming end of the world changes the life of some of the townspeople.

Each halloween I listen to the original Orson Wells broadcast and some of the documentary's as I find the subject very interesting. The concept of the movie sounded really interesting, and had the promise of being fairly funny. But it was not. The plot, especially the "love" story was not believable, nor were the "kids" aspect of it. Actually pretty sad. I would not say the acting was all that good, but the story is a big reason for it. They could have had an A list of stars, but would have still fell flat.

Not for one second do I believe all that happened.

Take it as a light parody.

So schmaltzy, so Hollywood, so predictable! Could not even finish, when it got to the cow-milker blowing up and the noble villagers running through the field to kill the bad Martians, I threw up.

this is american history. showing why people should never listen to FAKE NEWS. LOL

It was supposed to be a " Comedy, Science Fiction, Suspense" movie. Half way through the movie I realized it wasn't any of those. :-(