Xtro (1982)

An alien creature impregnates a woman who gives birth to a man that was abducted by aliens three years ago. The man reconnects with his wife and son for a sinister purpose.

Director:

Harry Bromley Davenport

Writers:

Harry Bromley Davenport (story), Iain Cassie

Stars:

Philip Sayer, Bernice Stegers, Danny Brainin

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philip Sayer	...	Sam Phillips
Bernice Stegers	...	Rachel Phillips
Danny Brainin	...	Joe Daniels
Maryam d'Abo	...	Analise Mercier
Simon Nash	...	Tony Phillips
Peter Mandell	...	Clown
David Cardy	...	Michael
Anna Wing	...	Mrs. Goodman
Robert Fyfe	...	Doctor
Katherine Best	...	Jane
Robert Pereno	...	Ben
Sean Crawford	...	Commando (as Tok)
Tim Dry	...	Monster (as Tik)
Susie Silvey	...	Woman in Cottage
Arthur Whybrow	...	Mr. Knight

Storyline

Tony's father Sam's abducted by aliens. 3 years earlier, he returns to earth and seeks his wife and son, but she's been living with someone else. After an awkward reunion, Sam's not the same as when he left, and he begins affecting Tony in frightening ways.

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Plot Keywords:

evil wins | bare breasts | nudity | female frontal nudity | female full frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

When Tony grows up, he's going to be just like Daddy!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was featured on an episode of the RedLetterMedia show Best of the Worst: The Killer Eye, They Bite, and Xtro (2013). It won with four out of four votes and was considered a "genuine good movie" by the crew.

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Goofs

When Rachel and Sam visit their former country cottage she at first says they have never been back since his disappearance, but later Sam asks her if she and Joe have been there and she says they have.

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Quotes

Mr. Knight: Cheap foreign bulbs!

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Alternate Versions

The 2018 UK blu ray release includes 4 versions of the film:- The original version The version with the alternate ending The version that was used for the original UK video release A new edit of the film from Harry Bromley-Davenport where many of the visuals have been edited

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Connections

Referenced in Xploring Xtro (2018)

User Reviews

Talk about a trip-out!

Like director Harry Bromley Davenport mentions on the (very amusing and upfront short) interview that comes with the double pairing DVD of the first two films, it's a mess. Simple as that. It's an incoherent slab of twisted ideas and episodic plots, some quite random (a dwarf in a clown costume springs out of nowhere) in quite a bewildering British low-budget Sci-fi / horror production. No wonder why this is considered a cult favourite. Trashy and nasty junk indeed, but unusually compelling because you just don't know how it's going to go about things. Instead of a clear-cut narrative (as it does have a unique spin on the various materials within), the header is to mainly shock, baffle and weird out. It effectively does that with few creative visuals, bloody make-up FX and crass special effects. Achieved from the eerie imagery and Davenport's elastically wallowing synthesizer (sounding quite second-rate, but uncannily otherworldly) score is a thick dose of atmosphere. Even the film's colouring is drearily painted. Davenport's direction is eccentrically boundless and this helps it move quickly without outstaying its welcome, (even if has that slow-burn style to it). The cast are more than decent. Bernice Stegers provides a strong show-in and lifts it up with her presence. Philip Sayer is capably empathetic and the lovely French actress Maryam D'Abo makes her acting debut. A curiously surreal and sombre uneven (purposely I guess?) b-grade fright feature that from the get-go, leaves you pretty much in the dark.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

X-tro

Filming Locations:

Artillery Row, Westminster, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amalgamated Film Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1