Invasion (1965)

This virtually forgotten low budget British science-fiction thriller from Merton Park Studios has an alien spaceship crashing near a small rural village in the English countryside.

When a humanoid alien (Ric Young) is accidentally struck by a car and taken to the local hospital, Dr Mike Vernon (Edward Judd) and Dr Claire Harland (Valerie Gearon) question their strange patient and discover he is a Lystrian in pursuit of two escaped criminals, who are on the loose outside.

A mysterious impenetrable force field suddenly encases the hospital and the temperature inside begins to rise. The force field is the work of the two other aliens (also humanoid, although all the aliens are Asian for some reason) who claim that the Lystrian being treated inside is lying: he is really a dangerous killer and they must take him back into custody.

But who is telling the truth?

The hospitalised Lystrian eventually reveals that he is indeed the escapee, having absconded en route to a penal colony after being wrongfully found guilty of murder.

There are virtually no special effects in the film which forced the writers to deliver a more literate script than might have otherwise been the case. The twist ending seems rushed and confused but doesn’t detract from the engaging storyline.

Invasion is a real must-see for early British sci-fi fans.

Dr Mike Vernon
Edward Judd
Dr Claire Harland
Valerie Gearon
The Lystrian
Ric Young (as Eric Young)
Leader of the Lystrians
Yôko Tani
Carter
Lyndon Brook
Nurse Lim
Tsai Chin
Major Muncaster
Barrie Ingham
Blackburn
Anthony Sharp
Police Sergeant Draycott
Glyn Houston
Sister Evans
Ann Castle
Dundy
John Tate
Barbara Gough
Jean Lodge
Sister Kelly
Ann Martin
Ted
Tony Wall
Harry
Peter Thomas
Lystrian Woman
Cali Raia
Morgan
Mark Kingston
Sergeant Williams
Emrys Leyshon
Lloyd
Leonard Cracknell
Elaine
Stephanie Bidmead
Lorry Driver
Norman Mitchell
Old Joe
Peter Sinclair
Telephone Operator
Diane Aubrey

Director
Alan Bridges

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