#703 – Invasion of the Star Creatures (1962)

Invasion of the Star Creatures (1962)

Film review #703

Director: Bruno VeSota

SYNOPSIS: A pair of hapless army recruits are roped into investigating a nearby cavern that was recently discovered. It just so happens that said cavern is home to a pair of aliens and their deadly creatures that are threatening to destroy the world, and Earth’s only hope is the two hopeless Privates…

THOUGHTS/ANALYSIS: Invasion of the Star Creatures is a 1962 sci-fi film. From the outset, it’s clear this is meant to be a comedy and parody of the b-movie science-fiction films. The main issue of this is abundantly clear, in that the low budget b-movies are themselves already open to ridicule thanks to their daft costumes, wooden acting, and implausible plot holes, so there’s seemingly very little purpose in actually trying to make fun of them. Nevertheless, we have two army Privates, Philbrick and Penn, who form a comedic duo who are roped into saving the world from two aliens who just so happen to have the form of scantily-clad women. The plot is barely there; stringed together from typical b-movie scenarios that poke fun at them a little, but nothing with any real substance. The humour is mostly slapstick and without teeth, but there’s no real budget or imagination to do anything exaggerated and over the top, making the physical humour extremely limited and barren. It’s not to say the entire film is completely flat; it does have a bit of energy and momentum, but it’s nothing special or unique.

you could perhaps imagine the film working better if the leading pair were bigger stars or a comedic duo with more chemistry. As it stands, Bob Ball and Frankie Ray don’t really have the necessary dynamic, appeal, or expertise to pull off anything noteworthy. One aspect which probably stands out the most is the costumes for the aliens, which are just body suits with carrots hanging off them, leading to perhaps the most notable line of the film: “That’s the first time a salad has ever tossed me!”. Watching it today, there’s really not a lot you’ll get out of it that hasn’t been done before and done better elsewhere. Also, there’s a whole host of outdated jokes and portrayals around women and native Americans which certainly have not stood the test of time. In conclusion, there’s nothing to really recommend Invasion of the Star Creatures nowadays.