Synopsis
Returning home from his stag, the about-to-be-married Tom Tryon is abducted by an alienmonster, who then takes his place at the wedding. Bride Gloria Talbott notices right away thather husband is behaving rather strangely, but by the time she suspects that he really ISN’T herhusband, the takeover of the town of Norrisville has begun, and the poor woman doesn’t knowwho is human, and who is an alien. The aliens have invaded to breed with our women (!!!).
Obviously ins…ired by Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1955), I Married aMonster from Outer Space mines much the same vein of paranoia. Though the lesser film, itnot only sports one of the greatest titles of all time, but it delivers on that title, and its moodyB&W photography helps create some genuinely creepy moments. Foremost among these are thescene where a drunk young woman attempts to pick up a hooded figure gazing into a windowdisplay of baby toys and furniture, and the sequence early in the film where we see the hideousface lurking behind Tryon’s chiselled features just before he steps into the honeymoon suite.Yep, this is one of the very rare films where the monster really DOES get the girl, at least formost of the movie’s compact 77-minute running time. Now that’s a bit of sexual nastiness youdidn’t see often in 1958.
Audio
The mono track isn’t the richest one I’ve heard, and the music feels a tiny bit thin. But thesound is clean and clear, with no hiss or static, and one can’t really expect much more from anunassuming B-picture almost fifty years old.
Video
The picture is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1 from the looks of things) and isvery sharp, especially in interior shots. There is a tiny bit of grain and dirt, nothing really to speakof. Or at least, all of this is true until about 40 minutes in, when the picture suddenly degrades,becoming grainer, softer and with much more noticeable edge enhancement. The picturesubsequently appears to improve, but the shift is very jarring.
Special Features
Sadly, not even a trailer.
Closing Thoughts
This movie has long been unavailable in any home video form, and this release, bare-bonesthough it is, is a treat for all fans of 50s SF.
