Strange Invaders (1983)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

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:

1950s | Alien | Alien Abduction | Invasion | Professor

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:

Anachronisms: The era is suppose to be the 50's, but the station wagon that Charles Bigelow drives is a '70's Ford.

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:

Spoofs Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Soundtrack:

1,000,000

It's OK, But Don't Believe Siegel

A takeoff on the 1950s sci-fi films, this has its good moments and moves along a good clip, particularly in the first half. The second half doesn't measure up to the first 45 minutes.

There is a mixture of satire on those '50s films along with some genuine suspense and action. There is even some bad acting and some bad dialog, but I couldn't tell if it was done on purpose! It wasn't as innocent as the old films, however, especially when Nancy Allen started using the Lord's name in vain. Other than that, it's a fairly clean, language-wise.

It's okay but nothing great, certainly not "stunning," as quoted by Joel Siegel on the video box. Joel is one of those national film critics who is so far out of touch with normal citizens it's laughable.