KILLERS FROM SPACE

US, 1954m 71 minutes, Black and white.
Peter Graves, James Seay.
Directed by W.Lee Wilder.

Killers From Space is a brief science fiction feature from the early '50s. It is a blend of realism and fantasy. It was made in a decade when science fiction was not as respectable as it would become. Science fiction films were made on small budgets, had meagre special effects and make-up. The films were generally B-budget and for supporting roles.

This film is a nuclear film. It was made at the time of the Cold War, in the aftermath of Hiroshima and some reassessment of the nuclear age. The film focuses on a nuclear scientist (played by Peter Graves) who crashes in flight over an atomic testing area. When he is found, he has a loss of memory and a scar on his head area. He is treated to a truth serum and begins in flashback a strange story. The film's credibility lapses somewhat with the-flashbacks and the meagre budget monsters.

It would seem that he was found by some monsters and taken to their cavern. There he is restored to life. These creatures come from another planet (Astron Delta) and the monsters, flesh-eaters, are giants preparing for an invasion. While Dr Martin's story seems to strain credibility, he regains his memory and comes to the conclusion that the only way to save Earth from the invasion from the other planet is to somehow or other cut off an electricity supply which the monsters are taking from a power station. He escapes and cuts off the power - thus destroying the monsters.

While the film does not work particularly well on a realistic level!, it does remind us that monster stories, stories of invasions and of mutants threatening human beings, are symbols for fears in the face of nuclear threats, ignorance of the powers of nature and their being used by human beings.