Teenagers from Outer Space: Aliens, Ray Guns & Gargons, Oh My!

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As usual there are spoilers ahead!

 

This film is silly. And I love that for me. I hope many of you will enjoy something much more lighthearted after the heavy topic of nuclear annihilation from the last episode.

 

Teenagers from Outer Space (1959) was the work of Tom Graeff who wrote, produced, directed, edited and acted in the film.  

 

As previously mentioned, the film is silly but I found it very enjoyable. Stilted dialogue that is often out of sync, special effects that are very simple and yet effective, space fascists with rayguns and a sweet hearted rebel finding his way in the unfamiliar new world of Earth. How many sci-fi tropes can you possibly fit into a film made on the tightest of budgets?

 

The film made me laugh a lot which admittedly isn’t too difficult to do but it was a much needed laugh after the beautifully bleak misery of On the Beach.

 

I am not the only person who has a soft spot for this film. I am very lucky to be joined by two wonderful guests who are definitely avid fans of this alien invasion adventure.

 

Marc Longenecker is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Film Studies at Wesleyan University.

 

Blair Davis is a Professor of Media and Cinema Studies at DePaul University. He has written a lot about cinema and comics and including the book The Battle for the Bs: 1950s Hollywood and the Rebirth of Low-Budget Cinema.

 

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