Invaders from Mars

A film that fits beautifully into the 1950s, a time that was a boom for B-movie science fiction, full of evil aliens. In this case, there is no frontal attack by the green men; rather, the theme of alien infiltration (as in the classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers) is developed by means of a device implanted in the brain of human victims. The story is told from the point of view of a boy who one night sees a flying saucer land out of his window and burrow under the ground. The boy's parents go to the landing site to check it out, sink into the ground (to the alien scum's base) and, with the help of a probe implanted in their brains, are remotely controlled to do mischief. The boy figures it all out and with the help of a scientist (who believes the boy) he manages to mobilize an army to take action against the alien invaders. The aliens are not seen at all for most of the film, only in the last third do they show themselves in all their glory, and they look quite funny. They are dressed in a kind of overalls, have three fingers and bulging eye flaps with slits. Their leader resides in a fishbowl, just a large bulging silver-plated head with arms from which grow two tentacles. The film has two endings, the version for the European market ends with the destruction of the aliens, while the American version ends with the boy dreaming and waking up to see the flying saucer landing out the window again, this time as if in reality. I watched the American one. (22/10/2004)

A fantastic and markedly militant allegory of the Cold War which, for some, may be excessively literal at times. Invaders from Mars is at a very neat technological level (imaginative and colourful stage set combined with brilliant camera work by John F. Seitz), but the alien design is plain funny – especially when they run. Otherwise, it’s a rather chilling flick, and, if seen by a child, an outright horror movie. One big regret: that the creators chose a fairytaly-safe way to end the story. (01/06/2018)

This beginning is absolutely fantastic, because it really beautifully demonstrates how danger can lurk everywhere, that anyone can be attacked. The second half is not so excellent, but still the more positive impressions prevail. A beautiful example of what was being filmed in the fifties, moreover in this case in color. B-movies about body snatchers are simply a great theme. (04/02/2015)