PopHorror Let's Get Scared
One question we horror fans hear a lot is: What’s a good scary movie? What’s the one movie that really scared you? This is a question I hear often, and honestly, I always answer it truthfully. There are tons of movies that horrified me and some I just love to talk about, but truth be told, I always come back to one in particular: Invaders from Mars directed by Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 1986).
Synopsis:
A boy tries to stop aliens who have taken over his town and are attempting to brainwash its inhabitants.
Tobe Hooper had plenty of room to show his version of the story while also paying tribute to the 1953 film. His Invaders from Mars gives us that feeling of the unknown and the fear of being unable to trust anyone, especially since the invasion happens at such a rapid speed. David Gardner (Hunter Carson: Paris, Texas 1984) does an amazing job playing a kid who’s not so much a loner or weirdo. He’s a normal kid, a good student, a kid who knows that lying wouldn’t benefit him. He’s also a loving son who cares for his family and friends, which could be his downfall in the end.
We watch the whole ordeal from the perspective of a child which is funny since Invaders from Mars is rated PG. The film focuses more on the psychological aspect versus the blood and gore of many other alien movies. Sometimes there’s whimsical music that doesn’t really help the story along making its placement a bit confusing, but there’s also suspenseful music which does help the film. 
Karen Black (Trilogy Of Terror 1975) and Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest 1975) play the perfect rivals. The fact that Black is the real life mother of Hunter could explain why she was so sympathetic toward David’s character, or it could also be that she’s a great actress. I’m willing to bet both since Black always delivered in her roles. Fletcher plays the perfect teacher, the one that we all couldn’t stand. This adds an additional element of fear for our young hero as he not only tries to figure out who to trust but also has to worry about his teacher trying to turn him into a mindless drone for the aliens. Another person we should give credit to for working on Invaders From Mars is Stan Winston (Aliens 1986) whom I’ve always loved. Both the set designs for this film and Aliens are similar including the design of the alien ships which feel like living things. We see just enough of the ship to show us how terrifying it was for anyone who dares step in.
Overall, Invaders From Mars is a fantastic throwback to the old days of science fiction as well as a great step forward for what horror has become today. The real tragedy is that the film is out of print, so if you’re able to, pick it up in any format.
