Strange Invaders

Infobox Film
name = Strange Invaders


caption = Promotional movie poster for the film
director = Michael Laughlin
producer = Walter Coblenz
writer = Bill Condon
Michael Laughlin
Walter Halsey Davis
starring = Paul Le Mat
Nancy Allen
Diana Scarwid
Michael Lerner
Louise Fletcher
Wallace Shawn
Fiona Lewis
Kenneth Tobey
June Lockhart
music = John Addison
cinematography = Louis Horvath
editing =
distributor = Orion Pictures
released = September 16, 1983
runtime = 94 min.
country = USA
awards =
language = English
budget =
preceded_by = Strange Behavior
followed_by =
amg_id = 1:47187
imdb_id = 0086374

"Strange Invaders" was a spoof science-fiction film made in 1983, as a tribute to the 1950s films, but notably The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It is well-remembered by viewers for a soundtrack that captures the authenticity of 1950s science-fiction. The film was intended to be the second installment of the aborted "Strange Trilogy" with "Strange Behavior", another 1950s spoof by Michael Laughlin, but the idea was abandoned after "Strange Invaders" failed to attract a wider audience.

In the United Kingdom, "Strange Invaders" was a straight-to-video release via Thorn EMI. Today, the film is owned by Warner Bros.

Plot

In 1958, the town of Centerville, Illinois was invaded by a race of aliens, who had the power to fire lasers from their eyes and hands, and could "crystallize" humans into glowing blue orbs. They took on the form of the humans who were either captured or, presumably, killed. As well as crystallization, the Aliens can also use their glare to unlock doors and drag elevators up and down shafts. They can also shoot bright-blue laser beams from their fingers, powerful enough to destroy automobiles.

Twenty five years later, university lecturer Charles Bigelow (Paul LeMat) learns that his ex-wife, Margaret Newman (Diana Scarwid), has disappeared while attending her mother's funeral in Centerville, and travels there to find her. The disguised aliens are all dressed in 1950s clothing, and try to capture Bigelow as he escapes, but only capture his dog, Louie.

Seeing a photo of an alien in a tabloid magazine, Bigelow soon finds Margaret, who is now revealed to be one of the aliens. She warns Bigelow to escape with Elizabeth (Lulu Sylbert), their human/alien hybrid daughter, to protect her from the aliens, who want to take her to their homeworld.

The aliens

The aliens (their race and planet being unnamed), are from "far, far away". They bear some resemblance to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but have landed on Earth to conduct research on the planet. Their invasion was somehow authorized by the United States government, and they release their "crystallized" prisoners before they leave.

Throughout the film, the aliens are shown to grow hot or ill very quickly at room temperature, suggesting that their planet is considerably cooler than Earth. The fact that they have no need for breathing apparatus suggests that its atmosphere also contains oxygen.

They are led on Earth by an alien posing as guest-house manager, Arthur Newman (no relation to Margaret), although their main leader, who appears close to the end, is only credited as "First Alien". Where Arthur Newman seems sly, aggressive and arrogant, the First Alien seems more compassionate and understanding. The First Alien tries to reason with Bigelow about his daughter, while Arthur simply crystallizes those who defy him.

Other aliens featured in the film include The Avon Lady, The Man in Dark Glasses and a gang of Rockers.

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 - Dr. 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

External links

*imdb title| id=0086374 | title=Strange Invaders
*amg title | id=1:47187 | title=Strange Invaders