UFO: Target Earth (1974)

An electronics expert searching for evidence of aliens picks up signals that he believes are from an alien spacecraft--and they are coming from a lake near town.

Director:

Michael A. DeGaetano (as Michael A. de Gaetano)

Writer:

Michael A. DeGaetano (as Michael A. de Gaetano)

Stars:

Nick Plakias, Cynthia Cline, LaVerne Light

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Plakias	...	Alan Grimes
Cynthia Cline	...	Vivian
LaVerne Light	...	Dr. Mansfield
Tom Arcuragi	...	Dan Rivers
Phil Erickson	...	Dr. Whitham
Brooks Clift	...	Gen. David Gallagher
Martha Corrigan	...	Woman on Veranda
Kathleen Long	...	Planetarium Receptionist
Billy Crane	...	Alan
Tom Harper	...	Interviewer
Ed Lynch	...	University Professor
Ida Agree	...	Housewife
Luann McMann	...	Farm Couple
George Lafia	...	Farm Couple
Johnny Baker	...	Rancher

Storyline

An electronics expert searching for evidence of aliens picks up signals that he believes are from an alien spacecraft--and they are coming from a lake near town.

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Plot Keywords:

lake | aging | skeleton | sacrifice | receptionist | 

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Taglines:

Journey to the Edge of Tomorrow

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Target Earth

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jed Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The boom mic can be seen at the top of the screen for over a minute when Alan Grimes and Vivian interview the old lady on her veranda.

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Connections

Featured in Mad Monster Rally (2009)

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Soundtracks

Between the Attic and the Moon
Performed by Eclipse

User Reviews

Wow ...

Aside from a really cool title and a neato disco UFO trip movie opening titles sequence, this movie sucks. Ever hear of a movie called BOG about a swamp monster that goes on the rampage and starts tearing apart ply-board movie sets? BOG is a better movie that UFO: TARGET EARTH. Ever seen Larry Buchanan's ZONTAR, THING FROM VENUS? ZONTAR: THING FROM VENUS is a better movie than UFO: TARGET EARTH.

I very fondly remember the UFO craze that gripped Amercia around the time of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, and while a bit early (1974) this film is surely a part of that craze. There were a bunch of faux documentary films on UFOs & other worldly phenomenon at about the same time -- my favorite will always be IN SEARCH OF NOAH'S ARK -- and I was kind of hoping this would be one of them. It isn't, and the last 20 minutes of TV blending feedback color head trip space junk might be great free-form visual expression, but please.

I wish I could be kinder on this film: The only UFOs you see are still photos used for the opening credits, which I come back to again as the high point of the film. I suppose if you were zonked out of your mind on blotter acid this might be somewhat engaging, it has a sort of naive earnestness about itself that is charming in a slack-jawed kind of way. I also dig the cheapo 70s interiors, editing room (literally) production design, and the idea of trying to make a movie about UFOs that essentially consists of people sitting around talking about them, followed by endless sequences of pre CAD or Apple Mac computer renderings instead of showing us space aliens. Kind of like the end of 2001 (complete with an ambiguous close-up of a star person's eye) but without all the fuss & bother involved with getting us there.

Something tells me also that the three 8/10 votes dragging this movie's user ratings curve up to 4/10 are in on the plot to deprive target audience viewers of a film with a name like UFO: TARGET EARTH of 83 minutes of their life that could be spent doing constructive things like playing golf, masturbating, or strangling small animals.

3/10; I did just raise it a point after reconsidering the movie. It's awful but then again like eating snails, awful movies can be an acquired taste. Try lemon butter sauce, or better yet a case of beer.