The Space Children (1958)

Simply A Masterpiece

hyped garbage

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

This movie inspired a lot of movies later (maybe one of the most famous was ET), but by far, this one continues to be better. More intrigue and adventure, and less drama.

I wish ABC's Production Department would list a credit at the end of this summer series and give credit were credit is due. "The Whispers" is adapted from Ray Bradbury's short story "Zero Hour" and also a 1958 Movie entitled "The Space Children" Directed by Jack Arnold Writers: Tom Filer (story), Bernard C. Schoenfeld (screenplay) The synopsis in one tag-line: 'Slowly...and with horror the parents realized THEIR CHILDREN WERE THE SLAVES OF 'THE THING' FROM OUTER SPACE!' Sound familiar? It should, because "The Whispers" also derived (stole?) a lot of their plot line from this 1958 movie as well. In fact, many, many years ago Steven Spielberg mentioned that he liked this movie ("The Space Children"). How 'bout that, eh? "The Whispers" is quite boring with good suspenseful music that makes one feel something very important is about to happen and you will finally know and understand what is going to happen next... Unfortunately we don't, but the music score continues to tease us. Very frustrating! It's like trying to have sex... a lot of foreplay, without the resolution,the pay-off...you know... THE CLIMAX! They should have condensed this summer series into a two hour TV movie and give proper credits were credits are due to "Zero Hour" and "The Space Children". Mr. Spielberg?

I have yet to see this movie un-mstied but would love to as I think it's a pretty damn good movie. This is one of the rare cases of mst3k being way off the mark in choosing this movie. Don't get me wrong, I loved the episode and their were some great riffs but I couldn't help but think that this movie was not nearly as bad as Mike, Crow and Tom (or any of these reviewers here) made it out to be. I will admit thought that on first watching it I did feel that the kids were being somewhat (but not completely) controlled by the alien but on repeated viewings it does appear that that is certainly not the case. I really need to see the unedited, un-mstied version, this is a b-movie classic in my humble opinion.

The children of some US rocket scientists come under the spell of a strange alien being that seems to want them to sabotage the nations defense!Another B thriller from director Jack Arnold (who directed the classic Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1954), this one is a bit more intelligent than the average drive-in sci-fi fodder. The Space Children is actually an anti-war film kind of in the tradition of The Twilight Zone, the story does indeed resemble a story that one would see on the classic TV series. Arnold lends some steady direction, creating an occasionally eerie atmosphere (who could ever forget that spooky final image of an ill-fated Russell Johnson?) and a decent alien creation. Kudos go to a chilling music score.The cast isn't half bad, the youths of the film being especially good.A worth-wild watch for those who like the films of this era.** 1/2 out of ****