Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie''s plot.
1967’s THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE is proof that, THE PROJECTED MAN and THE KILLER BEES aside, the Brits really COULD make a good science fiction movie in the 60s.
Based on the Joseph Millard novel THE GODS HATE KANSAS, the movie opens with a group of meteorites falling into a field one night. Nothing to sound the alarm over, except these meteorites came down in formation. A team of scientists is sent to investigate but they soon learn the rocks are more than just rocks. In fact, they’re a form of transport device, carrying alien intelligences that then take over the minds of the scientists at the site. The scientists then help the invaders to take over the minds of others who can help their cause--for instance a banker who can approve a loan for a million pounds--and the plot is in motion.
Well, not yet. The plot doesn’t get moving just then. First the aliens try to take over the mind of Dr. Curtis Temple (Robert Hutton who would, two years later, star in something with the unfortunate title of “Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?”), but the thing that kept Temple from participating in the investigation is the same thing that keeps him safe. Some time before the meteorites fell, Dr. Temple was involved in an auto accident that left him with a metal plate in his head, and his doctor refuses to release him from his care. Alien intelligences can’t penetrate metal plates. So you see, every just so often, street racing CAN save humanity.
Dr. Temple is in love with Dr. Lee Mason (Jennifer Jayne, who once starred in something called ONCE A SWAGMAN), but Lee was the first to be taken over and Temple wants to know WHAT THE DEUCE! But when he travels out to the site, he finds electric fences and armed guards and that’s just NOT the kind of thing that normally pops up overnight in Middlesex. At least, one wouldn’t think it would be. Temple is warned off by Lee who then tells one of the guards that, if Temple returns, he knows what to do. The guard nods and draws his pistol, so either the thing to do is to shoot Temple, or he’s not even paying attention to Lee and just wanted to admire his gun. To be fair, it was a pretty sweet piece. But I’m still sure Lee meant for the guard to shoot Temple.
Temple retreats to safety but returns later, this time through the woods instead of along the road and watches, dumbstruck, as something under a lake on the property begins to rise from the water. He’s even more shocked when the object turns out to be a rocket. And when the rocket takes off for space . . . Well, I do believe Curtis Temple just might very well be completely gobsmacked.
And then the Crimson Plague hits.
The thing I liked most about THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE is the way the story unfolds. This movie has its secrets and it keeps them close until the very end, never revealing too much at one time and letting the mystery build a piece at a time. It’s not often I regret knowing a movie’s plot beforehand, but this just might be one of those cases. The reveal at the end, I knew what it was before I watched the movie (the synopsis is on the package, spoilers included), so the entire time I was less confused by the mystery than I believe someone coming into it cold would be. And yet, even knowing how it ended, I still thought it was a great movie, because I was still able to view the movie as one who doesn’t know its secret and I was able to appreciate the way the plot unfolded with that in mind. So I have to say, if you don’t know what’s going on the entire time, there’s no reason at all you shouldn’t love this movie. And just so you know, I’m not giving it away in this review.
Hutton’s performance as the hero desperately seeking answers was solid, even if his fight choreography made me laugh out loud, while Jayne’s emotionless alien portrayal was also convincing, as was her post-infection character. Another thing I dug about the actors and their characters was I didn’t recognize them. And more than that, there was nothing particularly exceptional about them. Hutton is a normal looking guy. Jennifer Jayne was pretty without being “too pretty” for the part--as sexist as that sounds, I know--and overall the cast just had a very . . . average appeal.
The production quality on this movie was outstanding even if the era and the technology may have been a hindrance. Given the potential of a story like this, the way its told, and the possibilities of today’s effects technology, I’m surprised this hasn’t been remade already. Of course those average actors would have to be replaced by the likes of Seth Rogen or, worse yet, some 20-something pretty boy who’s biggest credit to date has been “stock boy” in a Hy-Vee commercial.
I admit I had reservations in the beginning. During the course of reviewing this series, it’s always been the really goofy black and whites from the 40s or 50s that have been the most watchable, but in the end THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE proved me wrong and it’s definitely one of my favorites from this set.
It’s not the most action-packed thing, nor are there very many--in fact, ANY--really outstanding effects shots, which, for me, hold this back from being 5 stars as it feels somewhat tame in comparison to, say STAR TREK (there’s no shot of a starship crash-landing on Earth while an android shouts an expletive, but we can’t have everything I guess) , but utilizing the resources at its disposal--good story, great plot reveal, and good actors who actually fit their parts--THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE is a solid 4 star science fiction classic and very much recommended.
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