out of 5)Director
Toby Hooper
Cast
Hunter Carson - David GardnerKaren Black - Linda Magnuson
Timothy Bottoms - George Gardner
Laraine Newman - Ellen Gardner
James Karen - Gen. Climet Wilson
Louise Fletcher - Mrs. McKeltch
Bud Cort - Dr. Mark Weinstein
Jimmy Hunt - The Police Chief
Steven Spielberg's recent alien flick, "Disclosure Day," hit theaters on June 12, just a few days ago. Spielberg's sales pitch among many for his movie was that it would shake people's faith, particularly that of Christians. I'll get to that absurdly stupid statement when I comment on his movie.
Anyways, everyone has been talking about his fourth alien movie after "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "E.T. The Extra-terrestrial," and "War of the Worlds." Not me, though. Not yet, anyways. No...I'm going back to another flick that, thankfully, didn't try to stir up faithlessness. That's the 1986 movie, "Invaders from Mars," directed by Tobe Hooper. How has it shaken people over the years? In a nutshell, it hasn't. In fact, with all this IP from the 1980s still alive and well and selling seemingly fine at Walmart, Target, and wherever else nostalgic stuff is sold, "Invaders from Mars" is a movie that doesn't seem to be very well remembered.
Occasionally, I find myself wondering if Hollywood's obsession with 1980s nostalgia will only end once every movie, television show, toy line, and any other character or mascot from that decade—which was 40 years ago—has been remade, rebooted, reimagined, or recycled. Maybe the entertainment industry will simply keep remaking remakes until everyone who actually remembers the 1980s is gone.
What I never really considered is that in the 1980s, Hollywood was remaking movies from 30 to 40 years prior. The 1986 sci-fi horror movie "Invaders from Mars" is a remake of the 1953 sci-fi horror movie of the same name, directed by William Cameron Menzies.
The 1986 remake is as typical an 80s movie as such a period film can be. I haven't seen the original movie, but I assume it's a typical 50s sci-fi film as that decade was the atomic age of horror and science fiction. Back then, aliens and giant mutant monsters were the main staples of scary movies.
In this movie, Hunter Carson plays young David Gardner, a rather happy kid fascinated with space and astronomy. He has two loving parents, George (Timothy Bottoms) and Ellen Gardner (Laraine Newman), who support his interests—though not as much as he would like after David witnesses a UFO land in the woods behind their house. They don't believe him when he wakes them up after seeing the massive spaceship land late one night.
The next day, his dad seems to be acting unusual. He's certainly not himself and suddenly seems eager to take David out into the woods. David takes his concerns about his dad to his mom, who at this point still seems like her normal self. That soon changes, though. His mom isn't concerned, and only starts to worry when George doesn't come home the following evening.
David notices other people in town acting as strangely as his dad, including his teacher, Mrs. McKeltch (Louise Fletcher). As more people in town stop acting like themselves and instead behave as though something else is controlling them, David discovers that the aliens who landed behind his house have created an elaborate underground base.
What I never really considered is that in the 1980s, Hollywood was remaking movies from 30 to 40 years prior. The 1986 sci-fi horror movie "Invaders from Mars" is a remake of the 1953 sci-fi horror movie of the same name, directed by William Cameron Menzies.
The 1986 remake is as typical an 80s movie as such a period film can be. I haven't seen the original movie, but I assume it's a typical 50s sci-fi film as that decade was the atomic age of horror and science fiction. Back then, aliens and giant mutant monsters were the main staples of scary movies.
In this movie, Hunter Carson plays young David Gardner, a rather happy kid fascinated with space and astronomy. He has two loving parents, George (Timothy Bottoms) and Ellen Gardner (Laraine Newman), who support his interests—though not as much as he would like after David witnesses a UFO land in the woods behind their house. They don't believe him when he wakes them up after seeing the massive spaceship land late one night.
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| Hunter Carson in "Invaders from Mars." |
David notices other people in town acting as strangely as his dad, including his teacher, Mrs. McKeltch (Louise Fletcher). As more people in town stop acting like themselves and instead behave as though something else is controlling them, David discovers that the aliens who landed behind his house have created an elaborate underground base.
He sneaks inside this base and sees the aliens along with what they're up to.
Now both of his parents are under alien control, just like his teacher and many others in town. So he goes to his school nurse, Linda Magnuson (Karen Black), for help. David doesn't have anyone else he can trust. Of course, she has trouble believing his claims, but it doesn't take long for her to realize David's outlandish claims are actually fact..
With what they each know, David and Nurse Magnuson go to military authorities at a nearby base where David's dad works. It becomes a race against time for the military to take down these Martian invaders and destroy their base before they conquer the world.
For me, this is the "Poltergeist" of sci-fi movies—minus Steven Spielberg trying to destroy my Catholic faith with some fantastical movie based on pure speculation.
With what they each know, David and Nurse Magnuson go to military authorities at a nearby base where David's dad works. It becomes a race against time for the military to take down these Martian invaders and destroy their base before they conquer the world.
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| Krang from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" bears a striking resemblance to the head alien in "Invaders from Mars." |
Unfortunately, "Invaders from Mars" doesn't feel thought-through or rehearsed. The line delivery in many scenes sounds scripted. While being an alien movie, it's more of a hodge-podge of horror, fantasy, sci-fi and comedy. The transitions don't work smoothly. It's hard to tell of some of the movie's flaws were done on purpose or not. Seeing as how the movie over-all is over-the-top, I'll give Hooper the benefit of the doubt.
The effects are practical, and the overall storyline moves along smoothly. And being over the top, "Invaders from Mars" is a quintessential, worthwhile popcorn alien flick. The audience gets exactly what it expects.
It's also a typical 80s movie. What does that mean? What is a "typical" 80s movie? When it comes to the current trend of marketable 80s nostalgia still bringing in the dough in 2026, a "typical 80s movie" has a storyline with a string of characters who are, well, very marketable. Those characters and storylines can bring in large audiences—or at least they could in the 1980s. The good guys are easily distinguishable from the bad guys.
Like many other "typical 80s movies" the plot can be explained in one sentence. For this movie: aliens arrive from Mars to invade until a kid catches on to their plan.
Like most other 80s movies, there's an optimistic tone, even when all humanity is threatened. There's usually a heroic memorable lead to provide the sense of optimism common.
Unlike many 80s movies—which is what makes this one stand out a little—it doesn't have a happy, uplifting ending. The rest of the 80s formula is present:as an ordinary hero makes a fantastic discovery, and of course, nobody believes him (except, in this case, his school nurse and a military general who happens to know his dad).
As the threat emerges (invasive Martians), the action escalates to an epic showdown. But, as I said, the ending is neither happy nor optimistic in the way today's audiences might expect from a 1986 off-the-wall alien flick. Kudos for some originality. Or perhaps Tobe Hooper was aiming for a sequel. Add in practical yet detailed special effects, and "Invaders from Mars" fits squarely as a typical 80s movie.
The special effects are worth the experience since they're done with puppetry rather than CGI. The aliens were created by Stan Winston, who also worked on "The Terminator," "Jurassic Park," "Aliens," "The Thing," and "Predator." They give the movie a B–sci-fi feel.
And speaking of typical, the film is also typical Tobe Hooper. It demonstrates his storytelling style just as much as it reflects the "typical 80s" mold. Like his other movies, this one centers on a terrifying event seen through the eyes of an ordinary person—in this case, David. This approach is also seen in Hooper's other films such as "Poltergeist" and "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre."
Like those movies, there's a helpless, nightmarish tone. David is initially the only person who catches on to what's happening. Not only is that a major burden on his shoulders, but he also has to convince adults that aliens are taking control of people. Who's going to believe this kid? On top of that, those he trusts most—his parents and his teacher—are now like strangers to him.
By the way, Mrs. McKeltch, played by "Nurse Ratched" herself, Louise Fletcher, is a truly unforgettable character. She's a stereotypical teacher of the Silent Generation who completely has it in for young David. Honestly, she should be a sci-fi/horror movie icon. She's strict, authoritative, and a monster behind her powdered face.
The effects are practical, and the overall storyline moves along smoothly. And being over the top, "Invaders from Mars" is a quintessential, worthwhile popcorn alien flick. The audience gets exactly what it expects.
It's also a typical 80s movie. What does that mean? What is a "typical" 80s movie? When it comes to the current trend of marketable 80s nostalgia still bringing in the dough in 2026, a "typical 80s movie" has a storyline with a string of characters who are, well, very marketable. Those characters and storylines can bring in large audiences—or at least they could in the 1980s. The good guys are easily distinguishable from the bad guys.
Like many other "typical 80s movies" the plot can be explained in one sentence. For this movie: aliens arrive from Mars to invade until a kid catches on to their plan.
Like most other 80s movies, there's an optimistic tone, even when all humanity is threatened. There's usually a heroic memorable lead to provide the sense of optimism common.
Unlike many 80s movies—which is what makes this one stand out a little—it doesn't have a happy, uplifting ending. The rest of the 80s formula is present:as an ordinary hero makes a fantastic discovery, and of course, nobody believes him (except, in this case, his school nurse and a military general who happens to know his dad).
As the threat emerges (invasive Martians), the action escalates to an epic showdown. But, as I said, the ending is neither happy nor optimistic in the way today's audiences might expect from a 1986 off-the-wall alien flick. Kudos for some originality. Or perhaps Tobe Hooper was aiming for a sequel. Add in practical yet detailed special effects, and "Invaders from Mars" fits squarely as a typical 80s movie.
The special effects are worth the experience since they're done with puppetry rather than CGI. The aliens were created by Stan Winston, who also worked on "The Terminator," "Jurassic Park," "Aliens," "The Thing," and "Predator." They give the movie a B–sci-fi feel.
 |
| Louise Fletcher as Mrs. McKeltch in "Invaders from Mars." |
And speaking of typical, the film is also typical Tobe Hooper. It demonstrates his storytelling style just as much as it reflects the "typical 80s" mold. Like his other movies, this one centers on a terrifying event seen through the eyes of an ordinary person—in this case, David. This approach is also seen in Hooper's other films such as "Poltergeist" and "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre."
Like those movies, there's a helpless, nightmarish tone. David is initially the only person who catches on to what's happening. Not only is that a major burden on his shoulders, but he also has to convince adults that aliens are taking control of people. Who's going to believe this kid? On top of that, those he trusts most—his parents and his teacher—are now like strangers to him.
By the way, Mrs. McKeltch, played by "Nurse Ratched" herself, Louise Fletcher, is a truly unforgettable character. She's a stereotypical teacher of the Silent Generation who completely has it in for young David. Honestly, she should be a sci-fi/horror movie icon. She's strict, authoritative, and a monster behind her powdered face.
Fletcher, well known for playing rigid characters, was superbly cast. She glares at David without blinking, with a rigid posture and sudden unhinged bursts of anger. And when she does smile, it's only when she has David right where she wants him. Fletcher takes this character go from strict to predatory. Some of the most memorably frightening scenes involve Mrs. McKeltch.
"Invaders from Mars" feels more like a child's nightmare than a typical, formulaic alien invasion movie. That aspect makes it more suspenseful and engaging. Its strength lies in its nightmarish, unsettling tone rather than just depicting the spectacle of aliens landing and melting peoples brains. It also features a colorful yet creepy atmosphere with its grotesque practical effects as an added bonus.
Underneath everything is a layer of the playful yet frightening tone of 1950s science fiction. As a remake, its love for early sci-fi cinema shines through. It has its campiness while being a fun experience.
"Invaders from Mars" feels more like a child's nightmare than a typical, formulaic alien invasion movie. That aspect makes it more suspenseful and engaging. Its strength lies in its nightmarish, unsettling tone rather than just depicting the spectacle of aliens landing and melting peoples brains. It also features a colorful yet creepy atmosphere with its grotesque practical effects as an added bonus.
Underneath everything is a layer of the playful yet frightening tone of 1950s science fiction. As a remake, its love for early sci-fi cinema shines through. It has its campiness while being a fun experience.
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