Friday, July 31, 2015

IT! TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE: ALIEN BEFORE ALIEN



Much has already been written about this movie being what appears to be the inspiration for the classic sci-fi movie ALIEN. The reality is that this is a very justifiable belief. While the particulars aren’t exactly the same and while the latter film invested tons of money in special effects and star power, this movie is basically the same story made for less money and much earlier.

A space mission to Mars is marooned on the planet and when the team sent to rescue them arrives there is only one survivor, Col. Edward Caruthers (Marshall Thompson). Suspicion falls on Thompson by this rescue crew from the start, most feeling that he must have had something to do with the loss of the rest of the crew. Due to this suspicion when things begin to happen they naturally think he has something to do with it.

But that’s because they weren’t witness to the alien that snuck on board their ship while they were rescuing Thompson and gathering items from the first mission. As the team heads back to Earth, they are attacked by the alien one at a time. Realizing they were wrong about Thompson, they include him on plans to deal with this creature. With time, and crew members, running out, the suspense builds as to whether or not they will survive this first encounter with an alien life form.

So the alien doesn’t plant itself inside of one of the astronauts but it does invade their spaceship headed home. And, par for the course of the time period, the alien is indeed a man in a suit. But they’ve done a wonderful job with this alien, making it both a monstrous creature that was sure to instill nightmares to children of the time while not being so hokey that adults would find it laughable. The suspense built with each encounter with the creature as well as the thought that perhaps it can’t be beaten also adds to the thrill of the movie.

Most viewers from today watching this film for the first time will find it funny perhaps with a spaceship that seems built more for comfort than space travel as well as several crew members who could be considered less than scientific. But as with all older films you must transport yourself back in time to the way the world was when the movie came out. This movie was ten years before man landed on the moon and three years before man even went into space. Placed in that frame of mind the movie works even better than it does on its own.

Olive has released the film to blu-ray and done a stunning job of it. The picture quality is an incredibly sharp black and white mix that gives new life to the film. While no extras are included as per their usual way of releasing classic movies, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is the care and respectful treatment given to this movie for a new generation to discover. Sci-fi fans will consider this a must have for their collection.

Click here to order.http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Beyond-Space-Blu-ray/dp/B00UOYIW6G/ref=sr_1_1_twi_1_blu?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1438369259&sr=1-1&keywords=it+terror+from+beyond+space+blu+ray

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