Alien Terror (1971)

In the European village of Gudenberg in 1890, Prof. Mayer and his assistant Isabel have created a powerful ray machine. One of the powerful rays is shot into space and attracts a flying ... See full summary »

Directors:

Jack Hill, Juan Ibáñez

Writers:

Juan Ibáñez, Karl Schanzer

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Enrique Guzmán, Christa Linder

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Boris Karloff	...	Prof. John Mayer
Enrique Guzmán	...	Dr. Paul Rosten
Christa Linder	...	Laura
Maura Monti	...	Dr. Isabel Reed
Yerye Beirute	...	Thomas
Tere Valez	...	Nancy
Griselda Mejía	...	Prostitute
Sergio Kleiner	...	Alien
Rosángela Balbó	...	Martha - mayor's wife
Mariela Flores	...	Deaf-mute victim
Tito Novaro	...	Gen. Nord
Sergio Virel	...	Villager
Nathanael León	...	Villager (as Frankestein)
Victor Jordan
Julián de Meriche	...	Visiting dignitary

Storyline

In the European village of Gudenberg in 1890, Prof. Mayer and his assistant Isabel have created a powerful ray machine. One of the powerful rays is shot into space and attracts a flying saucer. The alien pilot decides that the ray poses too great a threat to the universe and must be destroyed. Sex murderer Thomas is possessed by an alien intelligence and infiltrates Mayer's household; Mayer himself is later taken over by an alien mind. Paul Rosten, a young scientist who is in love with Mayer's niece Laura, arrives. The alien "Mayer" and "Thomas" rig the ray gun to explode, killing all who know its secret. Thomas kills Isabel, but before he can murder Laura, Mayer throws off the alien intelligence and she is saved. Mayer realizes that the ray is too powerful for human use, and he destroys it. The flying saucer departs.

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Horror

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Details

Country:

Mexico USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

April 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alien Terror

Filming Locations:

Estudios América, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Azteca Films,Columbia Pictures Corporation,Filmica Vergara S.A.

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shown in the USA in Spanish language theaters before being dubbed into English and sold to television.

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Quotes

Professor John Mayer: Have you noticed that our bodies are becoming radioactive?
Thomas: Well... yes.
Professor John Mayer: It doesn't bother you?
Thomas: No.
Professor John Mayer: Well, it bothers me.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: Targets (2016)

User Reviews

Another One Of Karloff's Odd Last Movies

"The Icredible Invasion" aka. "Alien Terror" of 1971 is one of the rather crappy and very odd last films of the great Boris Karloff. Released in 1971, two years after Karloff's death, this movie was directed by Jack Hill and Juan Ibanez, who also directed three other examples of Karloff's infamous last films, "Snake People", "The Fear Chamber" and "House Of Evil". While "The Incredible Invasion" is definitely a very crappy attempt of a Sci-Fi/Horror movie it is nevertheless very amusing and worth watching for its value as an unintentional comedy. While the movie does in no way rank behind "Snake People" in its oddity, it does not quite reach the unintentional fun-factor of "The Fear Chamber", as far as I am considered. Nevertheless it is great fun to watch and I could easily watch it again various times when I am bored and want to have a good laugh.

After Dr. John Mayer (Karloff) and his assistant Dr. Isabel Reed (Maura Monti) invent create a ray machine which produces some sort of nuclear power, a ray is accidentally shot into the universe where it hits a flying saucer. Reasoning that this sort of death-rays is too big a threat to the universe, the saucer's captain, a mysterious alien, who actually looks like a human being and wears a bizarre glittering seventies-style disco suit, decides to prevent earthlings from using it. The alien captain therefore lands on earth and possesses the brain of Thomas (Yerye Beirute), a serial killer of women, who operates as the alien's henchman from now on.

It would not be far-fetched to say that the Hill/Ibanez movies were to Karloff what Ed Wood's movies were to Bela Lugosi. Both brilliant actors and great stars of the horror genre, Lugosi and Karloff both ended their careers with some very odd films. Although they are without doubt unintentionally funny and they sure have some fans, however, the Hill/Ibanez films do in now way reach the cult status of Ed Wood's films.

"The Incredible Invasion" is terribly crappy as the Sci-Fi/Horror movie it tries to be, but it can be great fun if watched as the unintentional comedy it is. As far as I am concerned, every serious lover of film should watch at least one of Karloff's odd last films directed by Hill and Ibanez, just for the reason that they are some of Karloff's last films. Some other good reasons to watch "The Incredible Invasion" are lovely Christa Linder and Yerye Beirute, who also was in "The Fear Chamber". Don't expect any suspense whatsoever, but expect an unintentional comedy and laugh your ass off. 3/10