NIGHT
CALLER FROM OUTER SPACE (1965)Director: John Gilling
Image Entertainment
NIGHT
CALLER FROM OUTER SPACE (1965)Although previously available on both videotape and laserdisc, Image continues to admirably go for the more obscure stuff with this 1965 British sci-fi thriller. Also known under titles such as BLOOD BEAST FROM OUTER SPACE and NIGHT CALLER FROM OUTER SPACE (when it appeared in U.S. theaters and aired on late night TV), the film has now been given a wonderful DVD presentation.
Three scientists Jack Costain (John Saxon), Ann Barlow (Patricia Haines, the first wife of Michael Caine and later the star of THE VIRGIN WITCH), and Professor Morley (Maurice Denham from Hammer's PARANOIC and COUNTESS DRACULA) are called to the landing site of a UFO whose course they have traced by radar. The radar shows a considerably large object, but all that is found is a 6-inch sphere, which they take back to their research facility with the cooperation of the military.
Later that night, a strange creature visits Ann. Nobody believes her at first, but an odd-shaped footprint is discovered, and the facility is heavily guarded, so nobody can get in or out of the building. Morley theorizes that the sphere acts as a receiver for the transmission of matter from another planet but the creature kills him in an attempt to monitor activation.
The creature drives off in a military vehicle, taking the sphere with him. Later, dozens of young, pretty girls who replied to a modeling ad in Bikini Girls magazine are reported missing. It is then discovered that the creature is an alien from Ganymede, Jupiter's third moon, and he abducting the girls to repopulate his planet.
THE NIGHT CALLER FROM OUTER SPACE is an interesting little black & white effort, directed by John Gilling (PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES, THE REPTILE). Like many of Gilling's genre works, NIGHT CALLER drags a lot, but it has a nice mix of moody ingredients reminiscent of Hammer's early "Quatermass" films and X THE UNKNOWN, as well as Italian giallo films of later years. The now familiar premise is similar to subsequent inferior efforts like Larry Buchanan's MARS NEEDS WOMEN.
The film openly exhibits the limitations of it's budget, as the creature is mostly shown in the guise of a rubber claw or wearing a black mask to hide his ghastly appearance (which we witness briefly at the end, and not to impressive I might add). Even though the budget is limited, there is an overall eerie feeling and some delightful humor (especially when the police interview the parents of a missing girl), as well as memorable character parts by John Carson (PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES, TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA) as a major, and Aubrey Morris (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB) as an eccentric book store owner.
The DVD's quality is spectacular, with crisp sound and picture--an exemplary black & white DVD transfer. A British Board of Film Censors certificate is present, making one suspect that they could've used the original negative for the transfer. The only extras are comprehensive filmographies of Gilling and Saxon, a true international star. The menu, reminiscent of TV's "The Outer Limits," is also a surprise treat. (George R. Reis)