Although some of the time it seems like watching a one hour TV teleplay of the sort popular in the '50s, this interesting early sci-fi story by Ray Bradbury has earnest performances (especially from RICHARD CARLSON in the lead) and taut direction with great help from a theremin-flavored musical score for the alien theme.
The special effects are the problem. They seem crude and primitive by today's standards, and yet the film survives this drawback. The B&W photography is stark in portraying a desert setting where a scientist and his girlfriend (BARBARA RUSH) first experience contact with the alien from outer space. For plot purposes, no one in town believes them until the thing starts taking over some of the townspeople, a la INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS a few years later.
The chilling background score by an uncredited Henry Mancini is an added dimension that gives the alien menace a much needed grip on the audience. Richard Carlson plays it all straight and gives a convincing and heartfelt performance as the scientist struggling to make others believe.
Carlson gets nice support from Barbara Rush, Russell Johnson, Charles Drake and Joe Sawyer.
Considering when it was made, this is an interesting early start to the sci-fi films that followed. Bradbury fans won't be disappointed.
The special effects are the problem. They seem crude and primitive by today's standards, and yet the film survives this drawback. The B&W photography is stark in portraying a desert setting where a scientist and his girlfriend (BARBARA RUSH) first experience contact with the alien from outer space. For plot purposes, no one in town believes them until the thing starts taking over some of the townspeople, a la INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS a few years later.
The chilling background score by an uncredited Henry Mancini is an added dimension that gives the alien menace a much needed grip on the audience. Richard Carlson plays it all straight and gives a convincing and heartfelt performance as the scientist struggling to make others believe.
Carlson gets nice support from Barbara Rush, Russell Johnson, Charles Drake and Joe Sawyer.
Considering when it was made, this is an interesting early start to the sci-fi films that followed. Bradbury fans won't be disappointed.