INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN (1957)
Article #727 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 3-12-2003
Posting Date: 8-9-2003
Directed by Edward L. Cahn
Featuring Steven Terrell, Gloria Castillo, Frank Gorshin

Teenagers encounter space aliens in Lover’s Lane.

This science fiction alien invasion comedy isn’t really all that funny; though it maintains a light atmosphere, it is very lacking in the basic element of a comedy, and that’s good jokes. Nonetheless, it’s directed with a certain energy, features some truly memorable aliens courtesy of Paul Blaisdell, juggles its three storylines with ease (the two opportunists, the teenagers, the military), and in its own way, it may be THE quintessential aliens vs. teenagers movie. It’s certainly gorier than you might guess (particularly when the aliens encounter a bull), and there is something about the way the aliens attack with needles coming out of their fingers and injecting you with a fluid that definitely gets under your skin. So I quite enjoy this one anyway. And anyone who has seen it in tandem with Larry Buchanan’s awful remake THE EYE CREATURES can at least appreciate the world of difference simple competence can make in the production of movies like this.