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Invaders from Mars (1986 film)
Encyclopedia
Invaders from Mars is a 1986 science fiction film
directed by Tobe Hooper
from a screenplay by Dan O'Bannon
and Don Jakoby. It is a remake of the 1953 science fiction film Invaders from Mars
, and is a reworking of that film's screenplay by Richard Blake
from an original story by John Tucker Battle. Its production was instigated by Wade Williams, millionaire exhibitor, science fiction film fan and sometime writer-producer-director, who had reissued the original film in 1978 after purchasing the copyright to the property. Elaborate creature effects were supplied by Stan Winston
and ornate visual effects by John Dykstra
for the remake.
, young David Gardner sees an alien spacecraft land in a sand quarry behind his house. This is the beginning of an alien invasion that sees David's parents (George and Ellen Gardner), his teachers, and the townspeople slowly assimilated by the alien lifeforms, returning with less emotions. The only one who believes David is the school nurse, Linda Magnuson. Together, David and Magnuson enlist the aid of the U.S. Marines to help save the world. The film ends when David realizes that everything that has happened was a dream. He tells his parents what happened, and wonders if his dream will become a nightmare, especially when the alien spacecraft begins to land, and David witnesses the Martians eating his parents.
Jimmy Hunt, who played David Gardner's counterpart character in the 1953 film (David Maclean), portrays the Police Chief in the 1986 version.
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
directed by Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the horror film genre. His works include the cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre , along with its first sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 ; the three-time Emmy-nominated Stephen King film adaptation...
from a screenplay by Dan O'Bannon
Dan O'Bannon
Daniel Thomas "Dan" O'Bannon was an American motion picture screenwriter, director and occasional actor, usually in the science fiction and horror genres.-Early life and career:...
and Don Jakoby. It is a remake of the 1953 science fiction film Invaders from Mars
Invaders from Mars (1953 film)
Invaders From Mars is a science fiction film directed by William Cameron Menzies, taken from a scenario by Richard Blake, and based on a story treatment by John Tucker Battle who was inspired by a dream recounted by his wife. It was produced independently by Edward L. Alperson Jr. and starred...
, and is a reworking of that film's screenplay by Richard Blake
Richard Blake
Richard Blake, Mayor of Galway, 1533-34.Blake resided at Kiltolla , some ten miles east of Galway town. His grandfather, John Blake fitz William, was elected for the term 1487-88, being the third Mayor...
from an original story by John Tucker Battle. Its production was instigated by Wade Williams, millionaire exhibitor, science fiction film fan and sometime writer-producer-director, who had reissued the original film in 1978 after purchasing the copyright to the property. Elaborate creature effects were supplied by Stan Winston
Stan Winston
Stanley Winston was an American visual effects supervisor, makeup artist, and film director. He was best known for his work in the Terminator series, the Jurassic Park series, Aliens, the Predator series, Iron Man, Edward Scissorhands, and Avatar...
and ornate visual effects by John Dykstra
John Dykstra
John Charles Dykstra, A.S.C. is an Academy Award-winning special effects supervisor and pioneer in the development of the use of computers in filmmaking.-Education and early career:...
for the remake.
Cast
- Hunter CarsonHunter CarsonHunter Carson is an American actor, screenwriter, producer and director.Carson was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of actress Karen Black and actor, producer, screenwriter and director L. M. Kit Carson. He is stepson of Stephen Eckelberry and stepbrother of Celine Eckelberry, Stephen's...
as David Gardner - Timothy BottomsTimothy Bottoms-Early life:Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara, California, the eldest son of Betty and James "Bud" Bottoms, who is a sculptor and art teacher. He is the brother of actors Joseph Bottoms , Sam Bottoms and Ben Bottoms . In 1967, Bottoms toured Europe as part of the Santa Barbara Madrigal...
as George Gardner - Laraine NewmanLaraine NewmanLaraine Newman is an American comedienne, actress, and writer, and was part of the original Saturday Night Live cast.-Personal life:...
as Ellen Gardner - Karen BlackKaren BlackKaren Black is an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She is noted for appearing in such films as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Great Gatsby, Rhinoceros, The Day of the Locust, Nashville, Airport 1975, and Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot...
as the school nurse, Linda Magnusson - James KarenJames KarenJames Karen is an American character actor of Broadway, film and television.-Life and career:Karen was born Jacob Karnofsky in Wilkes-Barre, in northeastern Pennsylvania, the son of Russian-born Jewish immigrants Mae and Joseph H. Karnofsky, a produce dealer. As a young man, Karen was encouraged...
as General Climet Wilson - Bud CortBud CortBud Cort is an American film and stage actor, writer, and director. He is best known for his portrayals of Harold in Hal Ashby's 1971 film Harold and Maude and the titular hero in Robert Altman's 1970 film Brewster McCloud...
as Mark Weinstein - Louise FletcherLouise FletcherLouise Fletcher is an American actress best known for her role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and as Kai Winn Adami in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She also guest starred on the science fiction television series Heroes...
as Mrs. McKeltch - Jimmy HuntJimmy HuntJimmy Hunt is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as David in Invaders from Mars . In the 1986 remake of the same film he plays the police chief.-Filmography:*The Mating of Millie...
as the Police Chief - Eric PierpointEric PierpointEric Pierpoint is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as George Francisco on Fox Network's Alien Nation. He has appeared on all of the Star Trek spin-offs. He played five characters in the four series from 1993 to 2005.He is the son of retired CBS news correspondent Robert...
as Sargeant Major Rinaldi - Christopher AllportChristopher AllportChristopher Allport was an American actor.-Biography:Allport was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His acting life began at the age of nine in New Canaan, Connecticut at the Children's Theatre. While at Northwestern University, he worked with Paul Sills and Story Theatre...
as Captain Curtis
Plot
On the night of a meteor showerMeteor shower
A meteor shower is a celestial event in which a number of meteors are observed to radiate from one point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories. Most meteors are smaller...
, young David Gardner sees an alien spacecraft land in a sand quarry behind his house. This is the beginning of an alien invasion that sees David's parents (George and Ellen Gardner), his teachers, and the townspeople slowly assimilated by the alien lifeforms, returning with less emotions. The only one who believes David is the school nurse, Linda Magnuson. Together, David and Magnuson enlist the aid of the U.S. Marines to help save the world. The film ends when David realizes that everything that has happened was a dream. He tells his parents what happened, and wonders if his dream will become a nightmare, especially when the alien spacecraft begins to land, and David witnesses the Martians eating his parents.
Jimmy Hunt, who played David Gardner's counterpart character in the 1953 film (David Maclean), portrays the Police Chief in the 1986 version.