I actually liked this one quite a bit

I saw this one as a kid and found it tolerable, but I watched it on Tubi and was rather immersed into the story. It's delightfully cheesy and pulpy, intentionally so from Hooper's part. Stuff like there just happening to be a military base in town, a kid just waltzing into the General's office to tell him about the aliens, the General believing him, and more, is all really silly in way that reminisces of something from a 50's TV show. However, the movie will suddenly get really good and incredibly creepy for one scene, sucking me in enough to be petrified before the film returns to the cheese. David's first scene inside the ship, the teacher getting eaten, and the final parents chase scene all got under my skin. That first scene inside the ship in particular is one of the most bizarre and otherworldly interpretations of aliens I've ever seen, all done in a way that's perfect 80's cheese.

Hooper is clearly an intelligent director and his goal here was to make a good PG horror film for aimed for kids, but also not goofy enough in tone to alienate adults. Though "aimed for kids" is incorrect, more...Hooper is keeping kids in mind while also telling a story that would keep adults invested. I give it a 7/10