It Came From Beyond Space

When a V-shaped formation of what initially are thought to be meteorites lands in a field somewhere in rural Cornwall both locals and a group of investigating scientists learn the hard way that these oddly-coloured rocks house alien intelligence eager to take over human minds and bodies…

This is, you will have gathered from the title, a science fiction film – more precisely it’s a British B-movie flick from 1967 written by Amicus stalwart Milton Subotsky (based on Joseph Millard’s 1941 novel ‘The Gods hate Kansas’) and directed by another Amicus stalwart: Freddie Francis. Regarding the film’s title one wonders where precisely is 'beyond space' though perhaps ‘from another Galaxy’ doesn't sound quite so good.
The film begins when a series of meteorites crash-land in a V-formation somewhere in Cornwall. Immediately the authorities are alerted and government official Richard Arden (Bernard Kay) is sent to the fantastically named 'Ministry of Extraterrestrial Life on other Planets' Organization to ask for help. The head of research Dr. Curtis Temple (American 'B' feature star Robert Hutton) is the man they are after. However, he has recently had an accident in one of his prized vintage cars resulting in a metal plate in his skull - meaning his doctor refuses to let him go. Instead his assistant Lee Mason (Jennifer Jayne), who he just happens to be in love with, goes in his place. When one of the scientists smashes a pick-axe into one of the meteorites something very strange happens… the rock lights up and all persons within its perimeter are suddenly mysteriously changed; including Lee. They are in fact no longer themselves but have become possessed by an unknown alien force. Arden returns to the M.O.E.L.O.P. to enlist more help but by this time he too is possessed - just a direct gaze will do the trick. Arden attempts to possess Temple and his assistant Alan Mullane (Hedger Wallace) as they get into the car but it doesn't work with Temple due to the metal plate in his head. Temple escapes but is now on the case, heading off in his vintage car for Cornwall. There he is propositioned by an apparently bored young female petrol pump attendant (Luanshya Greer) - thus disproving the notion that Cornish people are unfriendly... well, initially anyway. Arriving near the crash-landing site he has to force his way into the now cordoned off area and demands to meet his fiancée Lee, however, she is no longer the woman he knows and loves…

He later meets government official Agent Stillwell (Maurice Good) on the road in the nearby town. Stillwell makes a call for help in a public phone box but suddenly starts to develop symptoms not dissimilar to the plague-like Red Death. Stumbling outside he collapses and infects practically all of the village bystanders including a doctor who attempts first aid; only Dr. Temple is left unaffected by this strange and deadly ‘Crimson Plague’. We now have an alien invasion and a fast spreading plague to contend with. Returning to the sectioned off area Temple witnesses a rocket rising out of a lake and blasting off into space. Surely our radars would have picked this up and caused a worldwide alert? The 'crimson plague' however is part of the alien plan. After a bold rescue attempt he manages to rescue Lee from alien clutches though not before discovering what the aliens do with the apparent plague victims.
Temple seeks help and advice from his brilliant scientific friend Farge (Zia Mohyeddin) who comes up with protective glasses, a head shield contraption made from his melted cricket trophies (!) and ultraviolet light that will repel the aliens. Fearless, the three find themselves hiding inside the rocket just before it takes off again. Soon they are discovered and are brought before the Master Of The Moon (Michael Gough in a particularly camp and silly outfit) who reveals some much needed facts – indeed, what do these creatures who inhabit human bodies want? While we’re at it: the PVC-clad blonde space vixen depicted on the DVD-sleeve doesn’t materialize for even one second during the movie!

For some strange reason quite a few still confuse Amicus Films with Hammer Films - mainly because they were both British production companies who specialized in horror films though the connoisseur will know the companies in question had a very different feel to their films. ‘It Came From Beyond Space’ was made in the same year as Amicus’ deservedly better known horror film ‘Torture Garden’ (also directed by Freddie Francis and featuring a number of the same actors) and was originally released as a support feature with the Sci-fi 'The Terrornauts'.
Robert Hutton is a likeable enough lead and Jennifer Jayne is fine as his fiancée – effortlessly shifting from loving girlfriend to coldly calculating alien – in fact the film has able support all round. Norman Warwick's cinematography (Eastman Color) is easy on the eye and benefits from some psychedelic interludes. Only James Stephens - a little known but respected classical composer – seems to have opted for a rather inappropriate jazzy score to this reviewer’s ears.

IT CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE IS certainly worth a look and an intriguing window into the kind of film you could see from a relatively small British (American headed) 1960's production company on a tiny budget. Newly restored and available on Blu-ray for the first time, bonus feature included audio commentary and UK trailer.