Muppet eyeballs take the Earth.
At Soledad Flats, Nevada “A” Bomb testing is being done. Dr. Douglas Martin (Peter Graves) is a nuclear scientist working for the United States Air Force. The jet he is on loses control and crashes. He appears to come out of it unhurt but with no memory of the accident or how he got the scar on his chest. A surgical scar.
At the base hospital Martin acts strangely. The Air Force brings in the FBI to investigate the situation. The FBI is still suspicious. They think he may be an imposter. They follow him. He is cleared but sent home to rest. Martin objects to being left out of the “A” bomb testing. He steals the next test information. He takes it to Soledad Flats and hides it under a rock. The FBI is following him. Martin tries to get away but crashes his car. He is taken back to the hospital and given truth serum. Under the influence of the drug, he relates an amazing story.
He says he was taken captive by space aliens. The leader was someone called Denab. They have an underground base. These aliens are from the planet Astron Delta and are ruled by a being called The Tala. They have come here across what they call the Electron Bridge. Their plan is to exterminate humans by using giant insects and reptiles they are growing. They use the radiation from the “A” bomb tests to mutate them and make them huge. The aliens hypnotized him to steal the data and wiped out his memory.
FBI agent Briggs and the base commander Colonel Banks are a little skeptical of all this and keep him confined. The doctor believes him.
From 1954 directed by W. Lee Wilder, brother of Billy Wilder, “Killer’s from Space” was released in 1954 and is from RKO pictures. It is one of the first alien abduction stories. The aliens are guys in onesies with Muppet eyeballs and Groucho Marx eyebrows. It’s definitely a low budget affair and even though the aliens are not fancy they are still just a little eerie. The creepy crawlies can make you a little squeamish if you have a problem with insects.
It’s been panned a lot by critics. They found it a little boring. Not creative enough. Some blame the budget. I think that’s a little unfair. There’s only so much you can do with a small budget. Granted it’s not the best science fiction story of the era, but I don’t expect more from “B” movies. Isn’t the cheap effects part of what the love of “B” movies is all about. After all, the ants in “Them” were just a lame and everybody loves them.
I actually liked the mystery and sure the alien leader was gabby, but they all are. How else are you going to find out why they are on Earth and how they are going to take over if they don’t brag about it? That’s their job, right? Buggy eyeballs and all.