Fabulous Films, out now

A spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect aliens when the local townsfolk begin to act strangely.

As the opening to The Rocky Horror Pictures tells us: ‘At a deadly pace, It came from outer space’, referencing Jack Arnold’s (The Incredible Shrinking Man) classic 1953 alien invasion movie with a twist. Released by Universal in 3D and based on a screen treatment by Ray Bradbury, the twist is that the aliens are benign and are only on Earth to repair their ship.

It’s easy to scoff at the tropes that have since become clichés, but the Theremin soundtrack, ‘possessed’ townsfolk and paranoia exhibited by local law enforcement were a still a new concept in the early 50s before becoming commonplace in this genre. The cyclopean aliens are very effective, though sadly they wouldn’t get the full benefit of a 3D screening, and the effects in general are great for the time.

Fabulous Films’ HD release is a sharp transfer, the ratio of 1.37:1 making close to classic TV ratio, complete with black sidebars. There’s a commentary by film historian Tom Weaver, a 30-minute documentary about Universal’s sci-fi movies, 2D and 3D trailers, and photo and poster gallery.

Verdict: You might challenge the trailer’s assertion that this is ‘The most memorable, most startling experience of your life’, but it’s quality, paranoia-fuelled classic sci-fi that deserves a home in your collection. 8/10