MovieChat Forums > The Outer Limits (1963) Discussion > The Invisibles

The Invisibles

posted 12 years ago by Deluge69-663-991830
9 replies | jump to latest

Just watched this interesting episode the other night. Great creepy mood that only black & white can effectively achieve.

One thing that grabbed me was the creature. Didn't it resemble the facehuggers from Alien? Don't tell me that the writers and producers didn't once see this. The old subconscious creativity.

It also reminded me of the 'lampshade head crusher' from Corman's 'Not of this Earth'; another 'facehugger' inspiration.

Seems nothing today is all that original.

[–] warren_houghton 12 years ago

Well if you're trying to create an alien that seems plausible but is weird and shocking/frightening to humans you'll end up with a limited number of basic designs. They can either be amoebas with no limbs, or have limbs like animal life here. You don't want it to look too humanoid - unless your budget's really low in which case you just slap on some face makeup or forehead ridges or something - so you end up with something insectlike. Which is perfect if you add the revulsion of having a creature insert part of itself in you, even worse if it LEAVES something in you, and REALLY gross if it smothers your face and inserts itself down your throat. Yecch. Can we say "Freudian?"

But I have no problem with the idea that people who make scary movies grew up watching scary TV shows. They'll do a good job at it. And just making a similar creature to one you saw growing up for your movie doesn't strike me as cheap or "ripping off" like using identical plot elements or identical whole premises as "Terminator" did.

[–] Deluge69-663-991830 12 years ago

You bring up some valid points. There is often a very thin line between being scary and silly. Low budget creatures can be made more effective through black and white; especially if it stays partially in shadows.

It brings THRILLER's 'Purple Room' and 'Pigeons from Hell' to mind. Also, IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE, where the man in the rubber suit is mostly kept in the shadows with brief glimpses. As we know, IT! was an inspiration to ALIEN.

I have no problems when it comes to "ripping off". There is really nothing new under the sun, just effective variations. And, if one must, they at least were influenced by some of the best.

[–] mickeyone 12 years ago

Speaking of IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE, I just moseyed on down to that movie's message board and discovered that that scene in "The Invisible Enemy" (with the rocket ship on Mars) was actually from that movie. Interesting, I always was kind of impressed with that shot, and yet they are saying this movie IT! had lousy special effects. Anyway, I am curious and would like to see it.

Later: Well, now that I read the post again, maybe that wasn't the scene from the movie IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051786/board/nest/127294862

[–] Deluge69-663-991830 12 years ago

That scene from 'Invisible Enemy' was from IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE. I have both, and watched them again recently.

For a cheap B film, I thought the effects worked in creating that dark cramped mood. They would only seem "lousy" to a contemporary purist who expects every movie to be CGI infested.

[–] AaronCapenBanner 12 years ago

Creepy episode that has elements of "The Manchurian Candidate(1962)" involving politcal conspiracies in the plot.

I was first surprised to see the recently deceased Richard Dawson turn up in a supporting role,and fine he was too.

[–] JoeN678 11 years ago

George Macready's opening speech was laughable, especially when he broke down at the end and began shouting "Monsters! Monsters! Monsters!" while the lame "monster" wiggled its little feet, or femurs, or whatevers. He always was declamatory and pompous, but that speech was hilariously awful.

Life's too short to waste my time on someone who'll just throw it away.

[–] MystMoonstruck 11 years ago

He isn't saying, "Monsters!" is he? I think he says, "Master!" or "Masters!", making it especially creepy that this wriggling little creature is in control of him and others, that it is master of human beings.

I don't find that funny! I find it creepy and shivery!

*** The trouble with reality is there is no background music. ***

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 10 years ago

The episode's direct inspiration would seem to be Robert Heinlein's The Puppet Masters (1951):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Puppet_Masters

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§