Parents Television Council Reviews

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The year: 1957. The place: Mohave, California. The incident: a flying saucer crash. When his prisoner, the monstrous Ghoti, escapes from the saucer, the alien space marshal Urp possesses the body of astronomer Ted Lewis. Will Urp-as-Dr. Lewis, waitress Tammy, and teenagers Dick, Penny and Cody be able to convince Police Chief Dawson of the monster’s existence…or will the Alien Trespasser DEVOUR THE EARTH?!

Alien Trespass veers between parody, slavish imitation, and fond tribute to genuine 1950s sci-fi pictures like It Came From Outer Space, The Brain from Planet Arous, and The Blob; but its imitation of period movies is accurate as regards problematic content. There are a couple kisses, and some subtle sexual innuendo (Dr. Lewis’ wife invites him to come into the bedroom to get his his “anniversary present;” and while making out at a Lover’s Lane, Dick tells Penny, “We couldn’t love each other more after our honeymoon,” to which Penny responds as she repels his advance, “You boys only think about one thing!”) Profanity is not a problem, with each of the phrases above used only once; most “bad language” in the movie consists of phrases like “gol-darn it!” and “Gosh!” Smoking is treated humorously, with Dr. Lewis constantly lighting and smoking a pipe (a habit which vanishes when he is possessed by Urp). One character is accused of drinking too much and gets out of a car to “take a whiz” – but is devoured by the monster before he can do so.

True to its ‘50s sci-fi origins, most of the film’s “violence” occurs off-screen. A few gunshots are fired, and there is one long and mildly disgusting description of the effects of radiation poisoning (“puking up your guts” and suchlike are described). When the Ghoti appears as a towering, tentacled blob with one large eye, its movements are more comical than threatening. The Ghoti devours its victims, leaving only a puddle of goo; but this is shown by a tentacle wrapping around a person with gurgling sound effects, a cut to another scene, and a cut back to show a steaming puddle. Overall, Alien Trespass contains less violence and problematic content than the recent (and similarly-themed) animated film Monsters Vs. Aliens.

Complete with wooden acting, tacky special effects and theremin music galore, Alien Trespass will best be appreciated by science-fiction buffs with long memories; but for those who wish to replicate the experience of seeing light-hearted sci-fi films with their children (and who do not wish to rent actual 1950s films), this movie offers an inoffensive means of doing so. Devoid of sex, profanity and gore, Alien Trespass is harmlessly hokey entertainment for children, and a source of amusement for teens and adults. The Parents Television Council does not recommend this movie for children under age seven.  

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