Movie Review: It Came from Outer Space (1953)

The movie stars Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush, Russell Johnson and Charles Drake.

My daughter and I picked this movie for our father/daughter movie time and, when we started watching it, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was sort of expecting it to be a horror movie. But, as it turns out, it was actually a pretty interesting mystery.

Basically, from the start, we know the meteorite was really a spaceship and the aliens inside the ship were loose. The fact they could also assume the form of humans they captured added an extra complicated element since it meant the writer's (Carlson) story would be much harder to prove, though the sheriff (Drake) did finally start believing him.

The part that was intriguing, however, was the aliens' intentions. Their ability to impersonate people put them in a good position to take over the world. However, based on their cryptic conversations, it was becoming clear that wasn't what they had planned. As a result, it was unclear whether they were there on a mission of peace or if they had some other, much more complicated, reason for being on Earth, at least until they finally explain it.

Another thing I liked about this film was the rising tensions as the truth was starting to get out, especially as the sheriff and others started questioning whether or not the aliens were telling the truth and debating whether they should try a rescue attempt or trust the aliens when they said they wouldn't harm the people they took captive. This did keep the film much more interesting than expected because it was hard to tell how the movie would end, especially since it created the possibility of a tragic ending rather than a happy one.

The special effects were a little lacking. However, the overall story was actually very entertaining and there was just enough suspense and mystery to keep the film from becoming boring. I might not have been overly certain about whether or not we would like the movie when we started watching it. But, it was definitely a movie we enjoyed watching and one I would recommend.

My Grade: B