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Written by: Avi Quijada | Editor-In-Chief

Category: Reviews

Published: January 09, 2010

This Article was formerly titled "Triangle Trespass - The Review"

Original formatting and pictures may be missing due to site migration.

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Alien Trespass

Director: R.W. Goodwin Roadside Attractions Screenplay: Steve P. Fisher Story: James Swift, Fisher

(These events may or may not have happened) San Diego, CA
April 2, 2009

I had ditched my partner, taken a small boat out to the Bermuda triangle, and jumped into a wormhole that took me back in time to...1957? Wait? That can’t be right... let’s check the news. A broadcast of 50’s happenings and fashion confirmed it, I was in the 1950’s.

CRAP.

As I sat there thinking how the hell I’d get home, who knows, maybe a sexy red head would show up and save me, a man came on the screen talking about a film, ALIEN TRESPASS  - it had been filmed in the late 50’s but never shown. Destroyed after negotiations fell through, this was top secret.

So secret, I later leaned that it was closed to the Cinematic Society of San Diego ‘Syndicate.’ As I was being corralled by bystanders I showed them my XFN credential but no one recognized the organization. Fortunately for me, my own bald beautiful man came to the rescue. NO, not Skinner, but the society’s Director, Andrew Friedenberg, who is coincidentally bald.

Soon in my hand, I had VIP tickets... and before he could change his mind, I ran through the corridors (of the theaters) and found my seat.

It was then that I realized I had NO IDEA what to expect! Never having seen a 50’s film before, I was a completely blank slate! Not to mention I was a decade or so younger than most of the audience. All questioning ceased as strangely familiar music pulled me back to the era. I felt like I was in a cutting-room floor version of ‘Triangle’ and had been mysteriously transported back to the 1950’s. I sat back and so it began. 

THE PLOT:

Mojave Dessert, CA

A meteor shower is seen lighting up the night sky, but a certain blazing object is...well, Alien to the scene. It’s a spaceship that soon crashes on the outskirts of town, calling to it the fascinated Astrologist Ted Lewis (Eric McCormack). He is then sucked into the stranded spacecraft only to be returned, changed. The Body Snatched Ted is now inhabited by a galactic federal marshal named Urp.

Urp had been on its way to another planet carrying a prisoner, an evil erectile looking Ghota. Swank rubbery monsters with tentacles and a big glowing red eye, Ghotas are smart and this one had sabotaged the ship! Once on land it escaped into the unsuspecting city. The problem is that Ghota’s are as hungry as they are ugly, and once they eat enough humans, leaving behind oozing puddles, they reproduce asexually until they consume an entire planet and leave it as a wasteland. So it’s Urp’s job to track the Ghota down and bring it back.

Logically, he looks for assistance in Ted’s home, where his wife Lana (Jody Thompson) is confronted by a not so Ted-like Turp (Ted+Urp). “You are Lana, Ted wants you safe” and “You are Lana, you must assist me.” Finally convinced that Ted has had some kind of accident while going to the crash site, she leaves to call on the town doctor. Urp is thus left alone to complete his quest. He goes off into town with the locator on his totally retro laser stun gun to find the ever elusive Ghota.

Within the town are some other characters called to action by the mysterious crash. We have the Law; police officer Vern played by “X-Files” Alum, Robert Patrick, a womanizer who is hated by the local teenagers; the Sheriff, Dan Lauria, who comically had only one day left till retirement; and the waitress, Tammy (Jenni Baird), an aspiring artist who later becomes Urp’s willing and loyal ally.

THE NATION SAYS: Pretty Cool.

Once I got home from my trip, I watched three 50’s films in order to make up my mind about the movie as a whole. I must say “Alien Trespass” is as close to classic as one can get.

I loved the fact that it wasn’t a spoof, it wasn’t a parody, and they really captured the feel of these 1950’s movies. I was no longer in the 21st century; all the masterful old school effects were fun, the music, the acting. Of course it wasn’t ‘as original’ as the originals but it’s an homage to the greats and is by itself, pretty great.

I especially loved the casting. McCormack was as sincere as Urp as he was charming as Ted. The timeless sexpot Jody Thompson, reminded me of those classic beauties and the equally enthralling and strong Jenni Baird, took over with her captivating eyes.

Robert Patrick gave a stellar performance as the lady loving cop with a cynical attitude, a hilarious side I had yet to fully see. Not only that, but if you keep your eyes peeled, Tom Braiwood (Frohike on ‘The X-Files’) and Julia Arkos (Holly from the reference room in ‘The X-Files’) make small cameos!

And for the newer generations who have no nostalgia for old films, it’s just plain fun. The old school effects, the social norms, and colorful sets just complete the experience. My Phile friend Katy and I will forever text each other with epic lines from the movie like “Urp wants you safe” or “You are my friend, you must assist me...” and my favorite “I would seek polarity with you.” We still laugh about it. Not because it was meant to be funny, but because it just captures so wonderfully the over dramatic acting of the time.

I get that people want to see CGI, stunt men, special effects, and explosions or its “No Bueno” but there was a time when audiences loved a witty story and sincere themes about not being alone on this planet. It’s been awhile since we’ve forgotten about today and lived vicariously through the past. After all, we’ve all seen the future and with an impending alien invasion in 2012, I say we party in the past.

The Nation's Cool Rating: â„❄❄❄/5 

MEETING THE GOODWINS

I’m just going to come out and say it, Goodwin rocks the bald look. The man is spiffy and genuinely funny; he even answered the question about killing a little girl with

“She deserved it.” Everyone was laughing.

And of course, for those of you who don’t know, my name is Perla, and I have a problem. I have an unhealthy fandom for Sheila Larkin, who happens to be Goodwin’s wife who also happens to be Dana Scully’s mother on “The X-Files.”

Oh come on, you know you do too. So let me just say she noticed. Don’t worry, my squees were silently high pitched (much to the chagrin of some local dogs) and I was shaking which was humiliating but it didn’t stop me from hugging her.

I have to say, she looks fantastic and young. They also took a picture of FrankenBear for the charity and mentioned the Book Project being put together by Erica for the late Kim Manners. After getting a few things signed and having Zellie settle me down a few times, it was over and we left as happy as well, a clam.