Invaders From Mars (1953) 4K UltraHD Review

70 years ago this year in 1953 a sci-fi film took audiences on a horrifying ride that would haunt their nightmare for years. That film was Invaders from Mars. 33 years later iconic director Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist, Salem's Lot) would remake this film. But the classic still reigns supreme.

Now for the 70th anniversary Ignite Films has restored this Sci-fi classic in 4K and have transferred it to 4K Ultra-HD, Blu-ray and DVD, so that everyone can witness the nightmare all over again, and this time in more clarity than ever before.

On a dark and stormy night, a young boy, David McLean (Jimmy Hunt, Pitfall), observes what appears to be a flying saucer crash-landing in his town. Shortly thereafter, the grown-ups - including his own parents - begin acting decidedly strangely. Convinced there's a link between this epidemic of bizarre behavior and what he witnessed that night, David turns to local health official Dr. Blake (Helena Carter, Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye) for help. But can these two unlikely heroes, together with famed astronomer Dr. Kelston (Arthur Franz, The Caine Mutiny), withstand the might of a full-blown invasion from outer space?

Now I have watched both versions of this film the original and the Tobe Hooper remake. And while Tobe's take is really fun to watch, there is something really extremely creepy about the original 50s classic. I give all that credit to the world to director William Cameron Menzies. He had such an amazing way to create a world that is so believably terrifying and claustrophobic.

Ignite Films has beautifully restored this film in 4K. They have transferred the film to 4k UltraHD. It is presented in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The soundtrack is a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. You can listen to the film in English or Spanish. The options for subtitles are in English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Japanese and Korean.

Watching this film it is hard to believe that it is 70 years old. It is hard to put into words how simply stunning this restoration is. I have seen this film many times but watching it now in this new restoration is like watching it for the first time. It is that stunning of a restoration. But Ignite Films added so much great bonus features to this release. Take a look at what is included.

* Restored 4k original 1953 trailer and a newly commissioned trailer (2022)
* Interviews with the star Jimmy Hunt, William Cameron Menzies' biographer James Curtis and recollections of Menzies' eldest granddaughter Pamela Lauesen
* Featurette with acclaimed film directors, John Landis, Joe Dante, editor Mark Goldblatt, special visual effects artist and two-time Oscar winner Robert Skotak (foremost expert on Invaders from Mars), and enthusiast and film preservationist Scott MacQueen
* John Saykes' introduction at Turner Classic Movie Festival in Hollywood, April 2022
* Before and After Clip restoration
* Restored segments in 2k of the Alternate International Version -- alternative ending and extended Planetorium scene
* Gallery with original Press Book pages, behind the scenes photos from the restoration process
* 20-page collector's booklet featuring an extensive essay on the restoration process: "Invaders From Mars: A Nightmare of Restoration" by Scott MacQueen


So, as you can see not only do you get a stunning restoration of this sci-fi classic, but tons of bonus material as well. What a release! A lot of the 50s sci-fi films are campy. Invaders from Mars is not. It truly is a nightmare of a film. It is so good!

If you love 50s sci-fi as much as I do this new 4K UltraHD release of Invaders from Mars is a absolute must own. If you don't have a 4K player, no worries, this new restoration has been made available on Blu-ray and DVD. So, everyone no matter what technology you have can enjoy this new release. I cannot recommend this release enough. It is that great! Head over to Amazon and order your copy today.

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 Being the Best) the 4K of Invaders from Mars receives...