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Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated This Island Earth (1955) in Movies

Sep 28, 2019

Contains spoilers, click to show

A scientist working on a new form of atomic energy is recruited by the mysterious Exeter to work with other scientists on secret project, but all is not what it seems.
This Island Earth is a classic 1950’s Sci-Fi flick, it starts as a bit of a mystery, a plane fails and is then remotely controlled, strange components arrive from an unknown company and Exeter is strange. Considering the age of the film, the effects aren’t too bad, there is the almost obligatory use of coloured light when things are being controlled, there are no visible string on the flying saucer and the costumes aren’t too terrible. Without going over the top with make up or prosthetics the film mangers to show that there is something ‘otherworldly’ about Exeter and his companions and even the alien planet of Metaluna is quite good.
This Island Earth also has, what has to be one of my all-time favourite aliens, the Metaluna Mutant. These are the total opposite of Exeter and costumed to look totally alien. They are almost pointless to the plot of the film. The normal Metaluna’s are not really an enemy so, to add a bit of threat to the end the film the mutants are introduced as a servant type race that have been mind-controlled but the hero’s run into a couple that are hurt which gives the opportunity to have the female lead chased around for a few minutes. The point is the mutants are unnecessary, the Metaluna leader has already created a threat which could have been used.
This Island Earth easily fits into the ‘Atomic fear’ movies of the 1950’s but also shows the hope the world had for nuclear power which makes the film a refreshing change from the normal alien invasion flic.