As a remake of the 1953 cult classic, it takes the original’s Cold War paranoia and cranks it up to… the high ’80s.
This one’s got all the hallmarks of Hooper’s awesome Cannon Films era – ambitious visuals, over-the-top performances, and an over-anxious embrace of pulpy B-movie absurdity.
For the uninitiated, it’s the story of young David Gardner. He discovers his parents, and eventually his whole town, are under the control of sinister Martians hiding beneath a nearby sandpit. Karen Black shines as the plucky school nurse who believes David’s outlandish claims. And stealing the whole show – who’s always scarier than any Martian, Louise Fletcher absolutely makes this movie.
Critics didn’t love it and audiences didn’t bother. But beneath all that campy dialogue, awkward staging and bizarrely exaggerated performances is a genuine love letter to low budget mid-century red scare sci-fi.
But Hooper is downright trippy here. He goes for the atmosphere of the original, but it ends up with this gel coloured almost Ed Wood’ian surreal tone, including but not limited to Stan Winston’s creature effects.
Are the Martians laughably goofy? Absolutely. And that’s why they’re awesome.
Invaders from Mars feels like a relic from an era when filmmakers took big, colourful swings, and not every remake had to feel grim and gritty or ironic.
It likely got made to be the next Poltergeist, something that could jolt suburban kids into peeking under their beds for aliens.
Something we should all do regularly, actually.
If nothing else, Invaders from Mars is a testament to the magic of practical effects, unapologetic gonzo weirdness, and the golden age of Cannon Films. It was a fun ride. -Pop
Invaders from Mars landed on Home Video this week in 1987, after a June 6th, 1986 theatrical release.