Here we have a movie somewhat better than it's reputation would have us believe. Peter Graves is a test pilot/scientist who miraculously survives the crash of his plane during a survey of a recently-exploded A-bomb. Soon, though, he comes to realize that he's being controlled by beings from another planet -creatures who saved Peter from death in order to use him as a spy! Ultimately, the invaders plan to destroy all human life with an army of enlarged insects and lizards! Moody little picture has some great visuals (and some shakey ones, too, admittedly) and a neat cast which includes a number of familiar faces. Economical, but effective science fiction suspenser is usually written off because Harry Thomas' invader make-ups are considered so farcical. This is the movie with the infamous "aliens with ping-pong ball eyes" which has drawn considerable scorn over the years. In truth, the enlarged eyes of the invaders (explained in the movie as mutation caused by the death of their sun) are actually cradles from egg cartons. Somber, almost claustrophobic picture is best watched with the lights out. The same production team also gave us the interesting-but-listless PHANTOM FROM SPACE and the threadbare THE SNOW CREATURE, which was possibly the very first yeti movie.
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