Strange glowing meteorites land in a field in Cornwall and anyone who gets close to them is taken over by an unknown alien mind control force. Others in the area are dying from a mysterious “crimson plague” which covers their bodies with drops of blood.
The authorities investigate this puzzling mystery, and hopes come to rest on American scientist Dr Curtis Temple (Robert Hutton) – who has a metal plate in his head as a result of a car accident and is therefore immune to the alien mind control.
Hutton is a very dull leading man and Jennifer Jayne is sadly turned into a mind-controlled alien slave far too soon.
They Came From Beyond Space looks cheap for a sci-fi film, the special effects and props are rather hokey (and recycled from the film Daleks – Invasion Earth 2150 AD) and there are lots of scenes in the countryside rather than on sets (to keep production costs down).
Things perk up at the end when Michael Gough (pictured below) appears and plays one of the alien leaders. Gough wears a fluorescent cape and reads his lines as if he’s in Hamlet.
Dr Curtis Temple
Robert Hutton Lee Mason
Jennifer Jayne Farge
Zia Mohyeddin RichardArden
Bernard Kay Master of the Moon
Michael Gough Stilwell
Maurice Good Bill Trethowan
John Harvey Alan Mullane
Hedger Wallace Mrs Trethowan
Diana King Dr Rogers
Paul Bacon Peterson
Dermot Cathie Dr Frederick Andrews
Norman Claridge
Director
Freddie Francis
Video
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Dr Curtis Temple
Stilwell
