Tag Archives: alien

The Thing (1982) | John Carpenter

January 1, 2021Two Tickets to Parasitesalien, alien invasion, Antarctica, assimilation, body snatcher, dog, husky, John Carpenter, Keith David, Kurt Russell, paranoia, snow, Wilford Brimleyqwipster

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The story starts out in Antarctica, where a group of scientists is bunkered until one day they are disturbed by the sounds of gunshots coming from a Norwegian helicopter, apparently trying to kill a runaway dog. They miss their quarry, and the Norwegians end up getting offed, with no explanation as to what their problem is. Fearing more violence, the American crew travels to the Norwegian camp, only to find some very odd occurrences, including a mangled humanoid body that has normal internal organs. Then, the dog reveals that it is not really a dog, but some sort of alien organism with the power to mimic other life-forms and dominate until it takes over everything around it. The men of the camp are its next intended victims, and soon, no one can trust the others. Kurt Russell, Keith David, and Wilford Brimley appear. Directed by John Carpenter.

The Hidden (1987) | Jack Sholder

December 25, 2020Two Tickets to Parasitesalien, cop, FBI, hedonism, Jack Sholder, Kyle Maclachlan, Los Angeles, Michael Nouri, parasite, serial killerqwipster

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Michael Nouri stars as LAPD detective Tom Beck, who takes down a bank robber gone berserk in one of the bloodiest shootouts in department history. What Beck doesn’t know is that the culprit is actually being controlled by a parasite within his body that loves danger, money, speeding, and good ol’ rock-n-roll, and it can’t be killed by normal means, and moves from host to host whenever the body it is in is about to expire. Enter FBI agent Lloyd Gallagher (Kyle MacLachlan), on assignment from Seattle to help apprehend the perpetrator(s) on a killing spree the likes of which have the LA cops stymied. Gallagher seems to hold the key as to why normally good people are going bad all of a sudden, but he’s not letting on why. Jack Sholder directs.

They Live (1988) | John Carpenter

October 9, 2020Insidious Extraterrestrialsalien, class, ghoul, homeless, John Carpenter, Keith David, Los Angeles, Meg Foster, poverty, Reagan, Roddy Piper, subliminal messages, sunglasses, trickle downqwipster

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This sci-fi actioner stars “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (yes, the ex-pro wrestler) as Nada, a drifter desperately in need of a decent job. He lands a temp job at a construction site, but strange doings in the church across the street cause him to investigate, and after the place is raided he discovers what looks like ordinary sunglasses have special lenses to be able to see the world for what it really is. Unfortunately, the world just so happens to be inhabited by an alien race who have taken over the Earth and forced humans into submission through subliminal messages while they are slowly turning it into a place of their own. When Piper starts fighting back, he gets himself into a whole world of trouble. With no one believing him and everyone after him, it looks like it’s up to one man to try to take down a world of powerful aliens singlehandedly. Keith David and Meg Foster co-star. John Carpenter writes and directs.

V: The Final Battle (1984) | Richard T. Heffron

October 2, 2020Insidious Extraterrestrialsabortion, alien, Andrew Prine, baby, birth, Blair Tefkin, Brian Taggert, Craig Buck, David Packer, Denise Galik, Diane Cary, Diane Frolov, Dick Miller, Faye Grant, Frank Ashmore, Harry Longstreet, Jane Badler, Jason Bernard, Kenneth Johnson, Marc Singer, Michael Durrell, Michael Ironside, Michael Wright, Mickey Jones, Neva Patterson, Peggy Goldman, Peter Nelson, Rafael Campos, Renee Longstreet, reptile, resistance, Richard Herd, Richard T. Heffron, Robert Englund, Sandy Simpson, Sarah Douglas, spaceship, warqwipster

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In this three-part TV miniseries sequel, the Resistance is fending off the pressing Visitors, who continue to fool the people of Earth by controlling the media, while depleting the planet of precious water and rounding up humans for food. The resistance scientists hope, hoping to find a weakness in the overpowering Visitor defenses that will help them turn the tide of the war. However, the Visitors still manage to gain the upper hand, especially when they capture Resistance leader Juliet Parrish (Faye Grant), who the scheming Diana (Jane Badler) tries to break with intense conversion techniques. Meanwhile, Robin Maxwell (Blair Tefkin) is dealing with her pregnancy from the lizard-like aliens, horrified at what kind of baby she will have. Marc Singer co-stars. Richard T. Heffron directs.

V – The Original Miniseries (1983) | Kenneth Johnson

September 25, 2020Insidious Extraterrestrialsalien, Blair Tefkin, Bonnie Bartlett, David Packer, Evan C. Kim, fascism, Faye Grant, George Morfogen, Jane Badler, Kenneth Johnson, Leonardo Cimino, lizard, Marc Singer, media, Michael Durrell, Michael Wright, nazi, Nazis, Neva Patterson, Peter Nelson, reptile, Richard Herd, Richard Lawson, Robert Englund, spaceship, Tommy Peterson, waterqwipster

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The people of Earth are visited and befriended by a human-like race from outer space inhabiting massive spacecraft, 50 of them measuring three miles in diameter, hovering over cities throughout the world. These newcomers speak Earth’s languages fluently, though they have distinct electronic-sounding voices and are so sensitive to light that they frequently wear sunglasses. They’re called the Visitors by the people of Earth. They’ve come to our planet for resources that we can manufacture for their people to survive in exchange for their vast knowledge of technology and medicine. They become celebrities welcomed by humans worldwide.

Manufacturing ramps up while the Visitors take over media outlets, shaping public opinion for their cause against the world’s scientists and any others who might figure out how to stop their domination, registering them to track their whereabouts, and imposing their influence upon the world. Revealed within the tale is that the Visitors are a race of carnivorous reptilians donning elaborate human disguises to suck the Earth completely dry of its water and to harvest humans for food. Kenneth Johnson writes, directs, and produces. Marc Singer, Faye Grant, and Jane Badler star.

Alien Nation (1988) | Graham Baker

September 18, 2020Alien Refugeesalien, Alien Nation, cop, drug, Gale Anne Hurd, Graham Baker, immigration, James Caan, James Cameron, LAPD, Los Angeles, Mandy Patinkin, refugee, Rockne S. O'Bannon, slavery, Terence Stampqwipster

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Set in the near future of 1991, it’s been three years since the landing of an actual flying saucer landed on Earth, containing a species of aliens (dubbed “Newcomers”) who had been genetically engineered as slave laborers. The Newcomers are smarter and physically stronger than their human counterparts, which makes them more suitable to perform certain jobs, and the backlash against them from the human population is escalating daily. In this environment, Detective Sergeant Matt Sykes (James Caan) has his partner killed by one of the alien “slags”, making it his mission to take down the ones responsible. He voluntarily requests to be partnered with the first Newcomer police detective, Sam Francisco (Mandy Patinkin) – Sykes calls him “George” instead, and while they haven’t been specifically assigned the homicide case, Sykes won’t stay off of it, employing Sam’s help as needed in order to get to the bottom of the underworld slag crime syndicate. Directed by Graham Baker from a script by Rockne S. O’Bannon and an uncredited James Cameron.

Stranded (1987) | Tex Fuller

September 11, 2020Alien Refugeesalien, Brendan Hughes, cop, farm, Flea, hostage, Ione Skye, Joe Morton, Maureen O'Sullivan, North Carolina, Red Hot Chili Peppers, refugee, sheriff, siege, Spice Williams, Tex Fuller, vigilanteqwipster

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In the story, five escaped alien refugees come to Earth like a bolt of lightning and find themselves in a remote North Carolina Victorian-style farmhouse inhabited by a newly-orphaned teenage girl Deirdre Clark (Ione Skye) and her grandmother Grace (Maureen O’Sullivan). Suspicions are high, resulting in the aliens taking casualties in a gunfight with the local yokels. They just want to be left alone and leave peacefully. But police are surrounding the house, just barely able to contain the gin-toting locals out for revenge for these aliens killing one of their own. Joe Morton and Flea also appear.

The Brother from Another Planet (1984) | John Sayles

September 4, 2020Alien Refugeesalien, assimilation, Bill Cobbs, Caroline Aaron, classism, David Strathairn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ellis Island, extraterrestrial, Fisher Stevens, Harlem, heal, immigration, Joe Morton, John Sayles, New York City, racism, slavery, Tom Wright, video gamesqwipster

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A mute extraterrestrial resembling a black man (but with feet that have three toes) crash lands his spaceship near New York City. Not understanding where he is or what people are saying, he finds his way to Harlem’s 125th Street. Although derided as either crazy or homeless, others discover his worth when he can heal broken electronics and human injuries with a single touch. A concerned social worker helps him get a job as a repairman. Hobnobbing with patrons at a local bar, the Brother finds a dangerous world outside of junkies, thieves, and thugs. Bounty hunters from his homeworld are after him. After discovering a boy’s heroin overdose, he uncovers a Wall Street drug ring. Joe Morton stars in this John Sayles film.

Starman (1984) | John Carpenter

August 28, 2020Amiable Alien Visitationsalien, Arizona, Charles Martin Smith, clone, FBI, Jeff Bridges, John Carpenter, Karen Allen, Richard Jaeckel, road trip, romance, SETI, UFO, Voyager II, Wisconsinqwipster

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An alien race intercepts Voyager II, a space probe describing Earth, effectively inviting aliens to visit. These aliens take Earth up on the offer, sending a scout pod to see what we’re up to. American fighter jets greet it and the alien scout crashlands up in the American backwoods in Wisconsin. Using DNA found in the hair in recent widow Jenny Hayden’s photo album, he transforms himself into the likeness of Jenny’s dead husband, a house painter named Scott (Jeff Bridges). Now, not-Scott must get to a rendezvous point at Meteor Crater, Arizona to get back to the mothership before he dies, but SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and the FBI want him to experiment on. The alien has no choice but to kidnap Jenny (Karen Allen) to assist him. John Carpenter directs.

E.T. the Extraterrestrial (1982) | Steven Spielberg

August 21, 2020Amiable Alien Visitationsalien, California, Dee Wallace, Drew Barrymore, e.t., extraterrestrial, friendship, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert McNaughton, Steven Spielberg, suburbs, UFOqwipster

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E.T.: The Extraterrestrial starts in a forest outside a California suburb. An alien spacecraft lands, and several extraterrestrials emerge, gathering flora samples. Suspicious humans arrive, the aliens escape, leaving one behind. He hides in a backyard shed, discovered by a 10-year-old boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Startled and scared, Elliott hides the alien, whom he dubs “E.T.,” in his room, and they become friends. E.T. determines to find his way back to his world by gathering the materials necessary to build a transmitter and “phone home” for his kin to come back and get him, as he appears to be growing weaker the longer he remains on Earth. However, Earth’s scientists aren’t going to let such an extraordinary creature get away quickly. STeven Spielberg directs. Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote also appear.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) | Steven Spielberg

August 14, 2020Amiable Alien Visitationsabduction, alien, Francois Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Richard Dreyfuss, Steven Spielberg, Teri Garr, UFOqwipster

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Richard Dreyfuss stars as Muncie, Indiana electricity lineman, Roy Neary, one of many people in the world to experience a close encounter with a UFO. Others experiencing the phenomenon exhibit the same odd behavior — radiation burns and an obsession with a mountainous shape. Roy’s obsession strains his relationship with his family, who think he is mentally ill. The eyewitnesses are compelled to converge at a location where the US military also plans for a close encounter of the third kind. Francois Truffaut, Teri Garr, Cary Guffey, and Melinda Dillon also appear in this influential film written and directed by Steven Spielberg.

The Abyss (1989) | James Cameron

July 31, 2020Deep Sea Deep Doodooalien, Cold War, deep sea, diver, diving, divorce, Ed Harris, James Cameron, marriage, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, miner, Navy SEAL, nuclear weapons, ocean, oil, rescue mission, submarineqwipster

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Virgil ‘Bud’ Brigman (Ed Harris) is the lead foreman of Deepcore, an underwater oil drilling rig 2,000-feet deep. Deepcore receives word of a downed US Navy nuclear submarine in the area near the Cayman Trough. As Russian subs are close by, foul play is suspected. The crew must escort Bud’s soon-to-be ex-wife Lindsay (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), the project engineer for Deepcore, and a crew of Navy SEALs for a rescue mission. A hurricane cuts communication outside, effectively leaving Navy SEAL Lieutenant Coffey (Michael Biehn) in command. Psychosis from pressurization makes Coffey unstable and paranoid, viewing the various neon-colored NTIs (Non-Terrestrial Intelligence) in a nearby abyss as enemy Russian vessels that must be destroyed. James Cameron writes and directs.

Real Men (1987) | Dennis Feldman

October 18, 2019CIA (Comedy - Intrigue - Action)alien, buddy comedy, CIA, Dennis Feldman, Jim Belushi, John RItter, road trip, UFOqwipster

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James Belushi stars as Nick Pirandello, a crude smart-ass that just so happens to be one of the country’s top CIA agents, who is ordered to recruit a mild-mannered suburban insurance salesman father, Bob Wilson (John Ritter), a lookalike for a recently iced agent, to join him on a secret mission that may have interplanetary implications that may result in the end of the world as we know it. But Bob is such a sweet-natured man, he needs a crash course in toughening up to the task, which Nick must do in order to achieve the mission’s success. Meanwhile, Bob thinks Nick is off his rocker, particularly when he begins talking like the case involves aliens from outer space. Dennis Feldman writes and directs this zany off-the-wall buddy comedy.

Predator (1987) | John McTiernan

August 30, 2019Kick-Ass Commandosalien, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Duke, Carl Weathers, commando, green beret, hunter, Jesse Ventura, Jim Thomas, John McTiernan, John Thomas, jungle, Shane Black, Sonny Landhamqwipster

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Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Major “Dutch” Schaeffer, who, along with his crew of elite special ops commandos, is sent to the jungle of a hostile Latin American country on a covert hostage rescue mission. However, he soon finds out there’s more to the mission than he had originally been told by his old friend, Major George Dillon (Weathers), leaving them in a firefight with other military factions in a country they aren’t supposed to be in. Worse, they discover that some of the soldiers in the area have been killed in a most disturbing manner, skinned, disemboweled, and left for vultures to feast on. And worst of all, Dutch’s crew appear to be the next on the prey list. John McTiernan direct this classic action/adventure/sci-fi/horror/war hybrid.

Alien (1979) | Ridley Scott

August 18, 2019Alien Killing Machinesalien, android, cat, corporation, Dan O'Bannon, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, John Hurt, mining, Ridley Scott, Sigourney Weaver, space, spaceship, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartright, Yaphet Kottoqwipster

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The story begins in the year 2122, onboard the commercial towing vessel, the Nostromo. Its mostly blue-collar crew, five men and two women, are awakened prematurely while still in deep space from their cryogenic slumber en route back to Earth. The reason for their early disturbance has to do with the company’s policy to investigate potential alien life forms, so when what appears to be an SOS signal is being transmitted from a moon in their relative vicinity, their overriding primary mission is changed to checking out the situation. Upon landing on the desolate planet, the scientists discover what appears to be eggs containing another form of life, one of which hatches and latches itself to one of the crew. Unable to remove the creature, it is brought back on board the Nostromo, where it grows at a rapid pace to become one of the deadliest killing machines humankind has ever faced. Alien would make a star out of Sigourney Weaver, and Ridley Scott one f the most sought-after directors in Hollywood.

Around the World in 80s Movies Podcast

A concise podcast reviewing the films released in the 1980s, with history, trivia, fun facts, and film critic Vince Leo's personal recollection with the era that defined a generation's taste in movies.

Tag Archives: alien

The Thing (1982) | John Carpenter

The Hidden (1987) | Jack Sholder

They Live (1988) | John Carpenter

V: The Final Battle (1984) | Richard T. Heffron

V – The Original Miniseries (1983) | Kenneth Johnson

Alien Nation (1988) | Graham Baker

Stranded (1987) | Tex Fuller

The Brother from Another Planet (1984) | John Sayles

Starman (1984) | John Carpenter

E.T. the Extraterrestrial (1982) | Steven Spielberg

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) | Steven Spielberg

The Abyss (1989) | James Cameron

Real Men (1987) | Dennis Feldman

Predator (1987) | John McTiernan

Alien (1979) | Ridley Scott