It! The Terror From Beyond Space [Blu-ray]

So much fun.. It holds up well for a movie with very limited funds. This DVD release gives me insight to the problems and the fun of making this minor classic. I have other older releases of this but this up date is so worth my time and money. If you are a fan of this film, you will not be dissapointed.

This is a great movie because of its simplicity.Basically this monster stows away on a space ship and starts wreaking havoc.The movie doesn't really try to conform to any sort of scientific principles like more sophisticated movies might.For example when they can't stop IT they remember that Gino had whipped up a batch of poison gas grenades as a precaution just in case they ran into anything on Mars. Fortunately he had left them in the cupboard in a cardboard box.So they throw the gas grenades at IT and let the poison gas circulate throughout the entire space ship.There are also great special effects as IT tears through various steel doors and gets exposed to a nuclear reactor which is very realistic.But don't think the crew doesn't have time for romance even in this short movie.There's a steamy love triangle going on between Caruthers, Van, and the lovely "Chicken".IT looks very similar to The Hideous Sun Deamon. I wonder if they used the same costume.Jeff MarzanoPhantasmThe Blob - Criterion CollectionThe Thing from Another WorldThe Thing (Collector's Edition)Recommended further viewing:Brides Of Blood / Beast Of BloodHorror HotelInvasion Of The Saucer MenNot Of This Earth (original)PhantasmThe Blob (with Steve McQueen)The Brain That Wouldn't DieThe Flesh EatersThe Fly / The Return Of The Fly / The Curse Of The FlyThe Four Skulls Of Jonathan DrakeGodzilla 2000Godzilla vs. DestoroyahThe Hideous Sun DemonThe Hypnotic EyeThe Incredible Shrinking ManThe Indestructible ManThe MansterThe Thing (from another world)The Thing (John Carpenter's remake 1982)The Thing That Couldn't DieThe Twilight Zone Collections

The basis for many sci-fi films to come, deservedly so. None influenced more than Ridley Scott’s masterpiece “Alien” (1979).A 50’s classic. Of course, as such, some goofy…concepts; the main cabin of the spacecraft is about the size of a generous office and no one has a problem with walking around with lit cigarettes, as if in their study… but still rewarding when taken in context. Far superior to many 50’s “iconic” sci-fi flics.The blue-ray presentation is as good as it’s ever going to look. A worthwhile upgrade from previous dvd ( or vhs…).Exhaustive commentary tracks provide great insights into concepts and production. A must own for fans.

I remember seeing this little black and white gem on television when I was very young and being scared to death. Well, many years later, I am surprised how well this movie still holds up. Granted, I have seen far scarier, sleep-no-more sci fi movies since then (ones that I am sure would have put me into a fright induced coma back in the day), but "It" depends more on suspense than onscreen bloodletting.The film is very low tech - the rocket's ignition looks suspiciously like the business end of a child's sparkler. I'm no expert, but I wouldn't have thought that firing a handgun or exploding grenades on a spaceship was a particularly well thought out plan. There is also an array of really bad science - ranging from the merely outdated (cartons of cigarettes as essential onboard provisions) to the peculiar (crew members wandering over to what appears to be a free-standing junior science set and randomly shaking beakers of solution) to the insane (unsheathing a nuclear reactor (!!) in an attempt to kill the alien). And yes, the acting ranges from merely competent to as wooden as Howdy Doody. As others have mentioned, the female scientists are relegated to serving coffee, comforting the agitated or injured male crew members, and freaking out at key moments requiring the men to save them. However, these are all really very minor complaints and you definitely cannot apply recent horror standards to a 1958 film.A short narrative at the beginning of the film (complete with the `50's standard Theremin in the background) and a short earthbound press conference provide the audience with the back story: The second manned mission to Mars is preparing to return to Earth with the sole survivor of the first manned mission, a Colonel Edward Carruthers (Marshall Thompson), who will face a court martial for the murder of his fellow crew members. Carruthers insists that someone or something else killed his crew, but can provide little in the way of details.As the ship takes off, it becomes apparent that a stowaway has climbed aboard. The creature is handled wonderfully well, initially only being shown in shadow, in silhouette, or partial body parts, leaving the rest to the imagination of the audience. Once you actually see the creature as it peers up into a lit hatchway, it does not disappoint.Being on a shoe-string budget, the primary action is limited to the spaceship which consists of small compartments set directly on top of each other, each level being separated by a ladder and a hatch door. However, this actually works quite well in that it conveys a real sense of claustrophobia and menace. As the creature moves from the lower compartments, up the ladder (honing in on its food source) and punching its way through the hatch doors, it drives the panicky and ineffective crew to the topmost level of the ship. Who will survive?This is what I call a real popcorn movie - engrossing, scary fun in a Saturday matinee kind of way. It won't require you to seek therapy after viewing it, but it will deliver a chill or two.The print is pristine with excellent contrast, minimal graininess and crisp audio. Special features include only a trailer in poor condition (full of artifacts and popping), subtitles in French and Spanish and scene selection.

Beautiful transfer for this classic 50s' sci-fi flick. The great grandfather of The Alien.