We are in a quiet house in the English countryside. Sam and his son Tony are playing in the garden when something extraordinary happens and the man disappears without a trace. Three years pass and another incomprehensible event returns to disturb the area: an aircraft falls from the sky and crashes in a forest. A monstrous creature escapes and begins killing people who come within range. In its wanderings, it comes to a woman's house, attacks her and takes possession of her body. When the poor woman regains her senses, all she will find of the mysterious creature is a gelatinous mass, but she will nevertheless discover that she is pregnant and gives birth to a being completely identical to Sam. The latter will return to visit his family, but Rachel (the ex-wife) welcomes him with many reservations, partly because Sam seems very confused and cannot tell anything about his three-year absence. Inevitable conflicts arise between Joe (the cohabitant) and Sam, with Rachel in obvious mental confusion. Some abnormal behaviors of Sam, make the family very nervous and they soon understand what is the real purpose of his return....
Misunderstood film by this low-budget but unpredictably successful British director. The special effects are the best side of the film, with some truly spectacular sequences and tricks worthy of superior productions. The script is not the most original: stories of aliens arriving on our planet with anything but benevolent intentions were commonplace at the time. But Harry Bromley Davenport still manages to put his own spin on the script with the help of bold but convincing solutions. The soundtrack is decent, making some scenes really dramatic; the actors are not the best one could hope for, but in the end it is the least significant part of the whole film.
In the years that followed, it spawned a couple of sequels with results that were far from acceptable, so much so that the original was regretted despite the paucity of its means.
Recommended to all lovers of the fantasy-horror mix and to all b-movie lovers.
Maxena Review
