I actually LOVE this movie! I think it's one of the best remakes I've ever seen. When I recently found it on DVD, I purchased it on the spot. To me, this movie is just plain fun. I love the way the boy has to tell the school nurse (The unique Karen Black) about the things he's seen, and she doesn't quite know what to make of this seemingly clearheaded kid. Then, when she sees a bit of evidence for herself, she needs to just take a leap of faith and sneak the kid out of the school. I find it so intriguing, because I always try to imagine what a person would really do in a situation like this. Imagine you're a school nurse, and a kid comes in telling you a spaceship landed behind his house, and now something's wrong with his parents, his teacher, his friend and her father. Of course, you would probably not take it too seriously. But, then, if you actually saw something that seemed to corroborate his story, how would you handle it? What would you do? Even the nurse questions whether she is doing the right thing, The bottom line is she just had to follow her instincts, and something was telling her that things were not right. Imagine really being in that predicament. And imagine if you chose NOT to believe the kid and chalk it up to his imagination. Of course this story wouldn't really happen, but what if it did? That's the point of movies - to make you imagine these wild, unrealistic situations as actually occurring. We are meant to suspend our disbelief and put ourselves into the characters of the story. In my opinion, this film unfolded exactly as it really could have in real life. The nurse taking that chance, believing the kid, meeting him after school, investigating the site of the landing - all the elements that eventually lead up to her discovering the truth for sure. The chemistry between Karen Black and her real-life son, Hunter Carson, is great. They were the perfect team. Laraine Newman and Timothy Bottoms are alternately funny and amusing, then creepy and frightening. And Louise Fletcher as the teacher is a riot! She's just classic. When she says to Karen Black, "You've got a lot of nerve, sister!," I lose it every time. I don't know how someone could not enjoy this movie. I am not a big sci-fi fan, but I put this top on my list of all-time great entertainmnet. No, It isn't Oscar worthy, but I don't need every film I see to be ABOUT SOMETHING. Maybe I just want to sit back late at night with some popcorn and put myself in another place and time. This one does it for me every time I watch it. It's almost like it gets better with each viewing. Don't listen to naysayers. Watch this Midnite Classic at midnght. I don't think you should be disappointed, as long as you aren't looking for it to make a statement about life.
Review of Invaders from Mars
