11-year-old David Gardner (Hunter Carson, real-life son of actress Karen Black) sees a spaceship land one night, and soon afterwards his father (Timothy Bottoms), his biology teacher Mrs McKeltch (Louise Fletcher) and the local police chief (Jimmy Hunt, who starred as David in the original 1953 Invaders From Mars film) begin acting strangely.
David eventually wanders into the Martian subterranean tunnels and spots some memorable Stan Winston-designed monsters.
Trying to get the school nurse, Linda (Karen Black), to believe him, David describes the invaders as “huge, ugly, slimy Mr Potato Heads” – which is a pretty accurate description!
The Martians are here to sabotage NASA’s Mars explorations and make innocent Americans – like David’s parents – their slaves.
Fortunately, the USMC are shortly on hand to save the day: “Don’t worry, son,” says a cigar-smoking General. “The Marines have no qualms about killing Martians!”
The Martian drones were performed by two people back-to-back in one suit. A little person operated the drone’s mouth and smaller arms while the full-sized performer made the creature walk and used ski poles to move the longer arms. The full-sized performer faced the rear of the suit and had to walk backwards so that the creature’s knee joints would bend backwards, like a dog.
Only two Martian drone suits were made for the production.
Linda Magnusson
Karen Black David Gardner
Hunter Carson George Gardner
Timothy Bottoms Ellen Gardner
Laraine Newman Gen. Climet Wilson
James Karen Mark Weinstein
Bud Cort MrsMcKeltch
Louise Fletcher Sgt. Maj. Rinaldi
Eric Pierpoint Captain Curtis
Christopher Allport Old NASA Scientist
Donald Hotton Officer Kenney
Kenneth Kimmins Mr Cross
Charlie Dell Police Chief
Jimmy Hunt NASA Scientist
William Bassett Heather
Virginya Keehne Kevin
Chris Hebert Doug
Mason Nupuf Heather’s father (Ed)
William Frankfather Corporal Walker
Debra Berger Hollis
Eddy Donno Johnson
Mark Giardino
Director
Tobe Hooper
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David eventually wanders into the Martian subterranean tunnels and spots some memorable Stan Winston-designed monsters.
