A flying saucer, which is part of a large Martian invasion force, is en route to attack the planet Arcturus. Passing Earth, it is distracted by the broadcast from a radio station in the USA, which is replaying the famous 1938 Orson Welles broadcast of HG Wells’ War of the Worlds (it happens to be Halloween on Earth).
Believing their invasion target to have changed, the aliens change course to Earth. To Big Bean, Illinois, to be precise, where they launch a heat ray attack on a nuclear missile silo.
It turns out to be a corn silo, and Big Bean finds itself knee-deep in fresh popcorn.
The Martians land on the farm of old man Wrenchmuller (Royal Dano), who is despondent because the greedy savings and loan guy, Klembecker (Gregg Berger), is about to foreclose due to default on mortgage payments.
Being Halloween, the five bumbling pint-sized potato-headed aliens are mistaken for trick-or-treating children as they wander into town, and the preoccupied locals (including all the stereotypical hicks, good and bad) refuse to be awed by the Martians’ terrible threats.
They make friends with two children – one of whom, ten-year-old Kathy (future Jurassic Parkstar Ariana Richards), is the daughter of the new, widowed city-slicker sheriff, Sam Hoxly (Douglas Barr).
The other, Brian (J.J. Anderson), is a seemingly parentless black kid dressed as Howard the Duck.
The Martians are excitable brats with a penchant for withering sarcasm. When a plan fails, the others ask their leader, Blaznee (Kevin Thompson) – who has a voice that sounds suspiciously like Jack Nicholson’s – “What now, Terrifying One?”
They try desperately to act tough but inevitably fail.
“Prepare to die, Earth scum,” one Martian says to the mother of a bunch of trick-or-treating kids who is driving the car he is in. Mom tells him to mind his manners or she’ll take him home.
One wrinkle in everyone’s plans is a very malevolent robot that is unfriendly to both the Earthlings and the Martians who brought it to Earth.
All ends well: The Martians give up their disorganised invasion attempt and go home, Klembecker doesn’t foreclose on Wrenchmuller’s farm, and the knucklehead gas station attendant gets the girl.
Sheriff Sam Hoxly
Douglas Barr Wrenchmuller
Royal Dano Kathy Hoxly
Ariana Richards Brian
J.J. Anderson Klembecker
Gregg Berger Vern
Wayne Alexander Russell
Fred Applegate Mrs Vanderspool
Patrika Darbo Ernestine
Tonya Lee Williams Sid Ghost
Ryan Todd Clown Kid
Barry O’Neill Pig Kid
Adam Hansley Radio Announcer
Casey Sander Old Wife
Rose Parenti Old Guy #1
Glen Vernon Old Guy #2
Hal Riddle Dumb Guy #1
William Holmes Dumb Guy #2
Kent Minault Clown
James Eustermann Dody
Justine L. Henry Blaznee
Kevin Thompson Captain Bipto
Jimmy Briscoe
Jeff Winkless (voice) Pez
Tony Cox
Bruce Lanoil (voice) Dr Ziplock
Debbie Lee Carrington
Joe Alaskey (voice) Giggywig
Tommy Madden
Tony Pope (voice) Commander/Enforcer Drone (voice)
Patrick Read Johnson Shortstuff (voice)
Kirk Thatcher
Director
Patrick Read Johnson
Video
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Believing their invasion target to have changed, the aliens change course to Earth. To Big Bean, Illinois, to be precise, where they launch a heat ray attack on a nuclear missile silo.
They make friends with two children – one of whom, ten-year-old Kathy (future Jurassic Park star Ariana Richards), is the daughter of the new, widowed city-slicker sheriff, Sam Hoxly (Douglas Barr).
They try desperately to act tough but inevitably fail.
