The Alien Factor (1978)

Director:

Don Dohler

Writer:

Don Dohler (written by)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A spaceship containing specimens for an intergalactic zoo crashes on Earth near a small back woods town...

Plot Keywords:

Spacecraft | Automobile | Passionate Kiss | Terror | Car

Cast

Don Leifert	...	Ben Zachary
Tom Griffith	...	Sheriff Cinder
Richard Dyszel	...	Mayor Wicker
Mary Mertens	...	Edie Martin
Richard Geiwitz	...	Pete
George Stover	...	Steven Price
Eleanor Herman	...	Mary Jane Carter
Anne Frith	...	Dr. Ruth Sherman
Christopher Gummer	...	Clay
Don Dohler	...	Ernie
Dave Ellis	...	Richie
Dave Geatty	...	Man in Bar
Margie Van Tassell	...	Susan
Tony Malanowski	...	Ed Miller
Debbie Pietron	...	Couple in Woods
William Cosentino	...	Couple in Woods (as Bill Cosentino)
Rick Cosentino	...	Biker
Greg Dohler	...	Child #1
Kim Dohler	...	Child #2
Joey Merenda	...	Child #3
Ann Hanks	...	Barmaid
Lon Talbot	...	Member of Atlantis
Glenn Ruby	...	Member of Atlantis
Jack Campbell	...	Member of Atlantis
Daniel White	...	Vance (as Dan White)
Britt McDonough	...	Ted
William L. Brown	...	Drunk
Cathy Oldaker	...	Girl in Bar
Donna Foster	...	Girl in Bar
Toni Watcheski	...	Couple in Bar
Ed Watcheski	...	Couple in Bar
Johnny Walker	...	Rex
Larry Schlechter	...	Inferbyce (Insect)
John Cosentino	...	Zagatile (Tall Creature)

Directed by
Don Dohler		(as Donald M. Dohler)

Writing credits
Don Dohler		(written by) (as Donald M. Dohler)

Produced by
Don Dohler	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Kenneth Walker

Cinematography by
Britt McDonough

Film Editing by
Don Dohler
Dave Ellis

Makeup Department
John Cosentino	....	makeup artist
Britt McDonough	....	makeup artist
Larry Schlechter	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Malanowski	....	assistant director (as Anthony Malanowski)

Art Department
Ernest D. Farino	....	title sequence created by
Tim Hammell	....	title logo designer
Tim Hammell	....	trademark design

Sound Department
Dave Ellis	....	sound mixer
Dave Ellis	....	sound recordist
Kenneth Walker	....	sound effects

Special Effects by
Bill Cosentino	....	special effects assistant
John Cosentino	....	'Zagatile' (tall creature designed by)
John Cosentino	....	special effects
Ernest D. Farino	....	'Leemoid' animated by (as Ernie Farino)
Ernest D. Farino	....	'Leemoid' designed by (as Ernie Farino)
Britt McDonough	....	special effects
Ted Rae	....	special effects assistant (as Ted Richard Rae)
Larry Schlechter	....	'Inferbyce' (incect designed by)
Larry Schlechter	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ernest D. Farino	....	additional photographic effects

Other crew
John Dods	....	production assistant
Dave Geatty	....	technical advisor
Christopher Gummer	....	production assistant (as Chris Gummer)
Ed Litzinger	....	production assistant
Daniel White	....	production assistant (as Dan White)

Thanks
John Ashton	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture
Tom Brenner	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture
Mrs. Celozzi	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Mrs. Ronald Celozzi)
Ronald Celozzi	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Mr. Ronald Celozzi)
Pam Dohler	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Pamela Dohler)
Pete Garey	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture
Frank Gummer	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Mr. Frank Gummer)
Mrs. Gummer	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Mrs. Frank Gummer)
Donald G. Jackson	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture
Lee Jamilik	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture
Mary Ann Merenda	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture
Joseph Mistretta	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Joseph Mistretta)
Mrs. Mistretta	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Mrs. Joseph Mistretta)
Robert Ondira	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture
Tom Phaneuf	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture
Mrs. Smith	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Mrs. Wilson Smith)
Wilson Smith	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture (as Mr. Wilson Smith)
Evelyn B. Wagner	....	grateful acknowlegment: to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture

Production Companies

• Cinemagic (as A Cinemagic Visual Effects Production)

Distributors

• Cinemagic (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Gold Key Entertainment (1978) (USA) (TV) (syndication)
• Retromedia Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• European Video Corporation (EVC) (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Media Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• United Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• VCI Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• World Beyond Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• All Media Productions  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as All Media Productions, Baltimore, Maryland)
• Anir Lounge, The  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as The Anir Lounge, Kingsville, Maryland)
• Baltimore County Office of Central Services  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture:
• Baltimore County Police Department, The  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture:
• Century Studios  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as Century Studios, Inc., Dallas, Texas)
• City of Baltimore Police Department  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as The Baltimore City Police Department)
• E.U.E. Opticals  process photography (as EUE Opticals)
• Federal Signal  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as Federal Signal Corporation, Columbia, Maryland)
• Gunpowder Falls State Park  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture:
• KLM Associates  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as KLM Associates, Inc., Potomac, Maryland)
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture:
• Quality Film Labs  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as Quality Film Labs, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland)
• WDCA-TV 20  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as WDCA-TV 20, Washington, D.C.)
• WFBR Mad Radio 13  we are grateful to the following companies and individuals for their assistance and cooperation in the making of this motion picture: (as WFBR Mad Radio 13, Baltimore, Maryland)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:15 (video premiere) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:Approved (certificate #24922)

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Cinemagic

Trivia:

This film was the third featured movie in the 2009 live show tour of "Cinematic Titanic", featuring "riffing" by alumni of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988).

Movie Connections:

Featured in Blood, Boobs & Beast (2007)

Soundtrack:

Jump Back Crackerjack

Funny? You bet! Worth a few bucks for the DVD? Oh Yes!

This Movie is just Fun. Back in the mid 70's movies like these were being made every day, by people with small budgets and little know actors. But they were the movies you would talk to your buddies about long after the movie has gone the way of the Drive-ins.I was too young to see Alien Factor when it was at the Drive-in. I did see on a late night fright show on NBC. I was about 15 then and found it be the best laugh you could get with out big name stars. I bought the DVD for a few bucks in a bargain store. I just watched it and Man! It brings back the memories. Plan 9 from outer space meets Gumby and Pokey! It's fun. It's low tech.it's got bad acting. But the monster costumes look great for mid 70's. I'm surprised Don Dohler didn't get as far as John Carpenter did. You might say some thing like "John Carpenter did some great work!" Yes thats true. But just look at one of his first movies "Dark Star" You can't find gems like these being made today. My friends and I call movies like these "Pure Cheese" This is the best of pure cheese around. You can find cheesy movies. But it takes the best and I mean the best to make it into My list of Top 10 Pure Cheese. I'll watch this movie for years to come. I would say on the Pure Cheese list I would put it at 3 between Laser Blast & Dark Star. Every now and then you have to sit back and watch a low tech/low budget movie. Just a good old fun Si-Fi that doesn't weigh you down with plot or sub plot. I hold Pure Cheese movies in the highest regard.The Alien Factor is one movie to be held high. So Thanks to Don Dohler for good fun!