Strange Invaders

PG

Released Sep 16, 1983

1h 34m

Sci-Fi

List

67%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

33%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1958 alien invaders abduct the residents of Centerville, Ill., usurping the townspeople's bodies as their earthbound manifestations. Decades later, on a family visit to Centerville, New Yorker Margaret Newman (Diana Scarwid) mysteriously goes missing. Margaret's ex-husband, professor Charles Bigelow (Paul Le Mat), suspects there is more afoot than mere foul play, and he partners with intrepid tabloid reporter Betty Walker (Nancy Allen) to investigate.

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David W

It's by no means a classic but it's a very watchable piece of family friendly 1980's sci-fi nonsense that recreates a 1950's vibe reasonably well. Mainly of interest (to me anyway) as a curio and for an early performance from Robocops Nancy Allen.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Directed and co-written — with Bill Condon and Walter Halsey Davis — by Michael Laughlin, Strange Invaders was to be the second part of a trilogy that started with Strange Behavior AKA Dead Kids. The third film was going to be The Adventures of Philip Strange, a World War II spy adventure mixed with science fiction. 1958: Centerville, Illinois (shot on location!) is invader by aliens, transforming humans into blue orbs and taking over their bodies. 1983: College lecturer Charles Bigelow (Paul Le Mat) learns that his ex-wife Margaret Newman (Diana Scarwid, Mommie Dearest) has disappeared after last being seen in Centerfield. Along with journalist Betty Walker (Nancy Allen), he heads to the town to find her and protect their daughter Betty Walker (Lulu Sybert, who was the daughter of production designer Richard Sylbert and writer Susanna Moore, who left Sybert for Laughlin), a half-human, half-alien being that the aliens want to bring back home. Along with June Lockhart and Mark Goddard from Lost in Space (and Kenneth Tobey from The Thing, Strange Invaders also has Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Wallace Shawn, Fiona Lewis (who was also in Strange Behavior ), Bobby "Borris" Pickett (the maker of "Monster Mash") and Dey Young (Kate Rambeau from Rock ‘n Roll High School). Strange Invaders is a movie that tries to remind audiences of the Cold War science fiction of the 1950s. Audiences weren't really all that into it — I mean, even The Thing struggled — but it remains a movie I watch every few months and always enjoy.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

johnny r

One of my favorite early 80's sci-fi movies. Great cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

dave j

Co-written and directed by Michael Lauglin A cross between "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "Village of the Damn" involving the wife, Margaret (Diana Scarwid) telling his ex-husband, Charles Bigelow (Paul Le Mat) to look after their son while she is away visiting relatives. Because of the fact that his ex-wife neither contacted him after looking after him more than enough time, he decides to go visit the small town in hopes of tracking her down, except that many of the townsman are queer, and have no idea what he is even talking about. And as a result of attempting to leave, an alien attempt to take him hostage by shooting electricity from it's fingers. As some of the humans are really aliens taking human life form.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hokey from beginning to end!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fairly fun secret invasion movie. Falls back on the nostalgia of the 50s alien flicks and sends it up. I feel it would've been stronger with a better lead though. Le Mat just seems little more than mildly annoyed throughout the movie...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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Michael Laughlin

Director

Paul Le Mat

Charles Bigelow

Nancy Allen

Betty Walker

Diana Scarwid

Margaret

Michael Lerner

Willie Collins

Louise Fletcher

Mrs. Benjamin

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Alan Jones

Starburst

In capturing the very essence of an era long gone. Strange Invaders is a delightful and rewarding film.

Aug 1, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

[UPDATED 2024 BLU-RAY REVIEW] The zippy script by Michael Laughlin and future Oscar winner Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters) is better than Laughlin's often lethargic direction.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 4, 2015

Full Review

Andy Klein

Los Angeles CityBeat

Rated: 1/5

Mar 24, 2005

Full Review

James Sanford

Kalamazoo Gazette

Amusingly off-the-wall sci-fi spoof

Rated: 3/5

Mar 18, 2005

Full Review

Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Rated: 3/5

Nov 19, 2004

Full Review

Linda Cook

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Rated: 4/5

Aug 4, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1958 alien invaders abduct the residents of Centerville, Ill., usurping the townspeople's bodies as their earthbound manifestations. Decades later, on a family visit to Centerville, New Yorker Margaret Newman (Diana Scarwid) mysteriously goes missing. Margaret's ex-husband, professor Charles Bigelow (Paul Le Mat), suspects there is more afoot than mere foul play, and he partners with intrepid tabloid reporter Betty Walker (Nancy Allen) to investigate.

Director: Michael Laughlin
Producer: Richard M. Greenberg
Screenwriter: Bill Condon, Michael Laughlin
Production Co: EMI Films Ltd., Lone Wolf McQuade Associates
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 1983, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 34m

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