Alien Trespass Review

The science fiction genre was most popular in the 1950’s with their campy alien costumes, silly dialog, and eccentric situations. So many people always say, “They don’t make films like how they use to,” until now. Director R.W. Goodwin and writer Steven P. Fisher brings back the classic 1950’s sci-fi film with Alien Trespass.

            You will not find blood and gore in this movie like many of the new suspense, thrillers, and sci-fi films on the screen today. Goodwin wanted to pay homage to the 1950’s genre and did just that. Alien Trespass, though quite silly, is still filled with classic suspense, a captivating soundtrack, and bright vibrant colors to appear like a comic strip. Viewing this film, the audience really gets to see how overly exaggerated films in the 50’s were, and now get to laugh along and appreciate these films with Goodwin’s tribute. 

            From the first moment the film begins, it feels like a time warp, back to the 50’s. Every moment is an echo of a classic film like War of the Worlds, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Blob. Each detail about this film has captured the atmosphere of a drive in flick; all that is missing is the car and the side order of fries.

            The story is set in the summer of 1957 in a small nowhere town in the deserts of California. The stars are ablaze and local astronomer Ted Lewis (Eric McCormack, of Will and Grace) is in anticipation of the meteorite shower. Then something from the sky falls crazily to the earth and hits the butte: something that Lewis knows is not just any meteorite.

            Like any astronomer of course he is curious and wanders up to the hill in the desert to only be face to face with a space ship. This is no meteorite, yet curiosity gets the best of Lewis. As Lewis proceeds to investigate the space shuttle he is immediately snatched up.

            Lewis returns home the next morning, yet he is no longer Lewis, but the alien Urp, who has captured him and is using his body. Urp tries to explain these misfortunes to Lewis’ wife, Lana (Jody Thompson), and how his ship has broken down on planet Earth, and the dangerous creature the Ghota has left his possession upon the collide. Unfortunately, Lana refuses to believe Urp disguised as Lewis and decided to flee and fetch the doctor. There is one person however who believes this outlandish story, and that is the heroin Tammy (Jenni Baird) from the local Lucky’s Diner. Both Tammy and Urp help one another to find the alien monster, the Ghota, before it eats the whole town.

            Though the plot is ridiculous, and the special effects are completely out of date, the movie is fun from start to finish, and will keep you laughing. There are many subtle jokes about past and more recent events that make this movie even more entertaining. Goodwin nailed the parody of the 50’s genre. “50 years after they were made they are still so funny. That’s what I thought would be fun, to really truly stick to the 50’s in everything the acting directing everything had to be true 50’s….It was more fun I’ve ever had in my life,” Goodwin said. Though the monster alien was in a completely non-believable rubber suit, the film still had its suspense. Goodwin captured the true elements to making a thriller out of a fun project. After all Goodwin would know a thing or two about creating suspense, after his work with directing the X-Files.

            What set this film apart from just another bad 50’s sci-fi was in my personal opinion, and Goodwin’s Tammy. Never has there been a female hero in the 50’s genre until now. Tammy is no damsel in distress, but a true hero taking the lead and action into saving the world. “We purposely did that, it’s the only thing in the movie that’s not in the 50’s, and we thought it was great….Jenni Baird was the first and only one who gave me goosebumps,” said Goodwin.

            The remarkable part of this production was it was shot in 15 days and not a flaw was seen in the film. Even when asking Goodwin if he had more time to film and an unlimited budget he responded “Not much in all honesty…The good news was I did the X-Files not only did I produce and executive produce all of them for the first five years but I directed a whole bunch… and those you only had this much time to do it…you couldn’t re-shoot or add anything, it taught me how to do a feature quality work on a television schedule.” After watching Alien Trespass I could not believe the shooting of the film was so short.

Goodwin has such passion for this film and his love for sci-fi that he even wants to make a sequel, “People are now talking sequels, sequel, sequel, it would be kind of cool. Urp coming back to find Tammy and figuring out that “hormonal polarity”…I want to get this group all back together again,” Goodwin said. However, despite his love for science fiction, Goodwin would love to try to do something different: “I did love these sci-fi movies as a kid and I always liked the scary stuff…but I also love comedy, I kind of have a wide range of stuff I like…I don’t like to do anything the same. I like new stuff as old as I am, I still like different stuff. I love creepy and scary but I am not particularly sure I want to do aliens for the rest of my life,” Goodwin said.

            So if you like sci-fi, or 50’s classics, or just movies that make fun of both: Alien Trespass is perfect for you. Alien Trespass deserves a solid A+. The film is hilarious each second, beautifully filmed capturing all elements of the 1950’s, and even has its moments of suspense. Watching Alien Trespass is moving pop art with an amazing cast, and so overly campy it is good. The 1950’s parody and tribute, Alien Trespass, comes out April 3^rd at Kendall Square Theatre.