Strange Invaders (1983) MGM Blu-ray Review

In the 1950s B movies about invaders from space were being churned out like butter. Audiences in that decade couldn't get enough of those adventures. The love of those film continued through the years. And filmmakers in the 80s began to make films inspired by their love for those films.

Michael Laughlin was just one such director. He co-wrote the screenplay of Strange Invaders with William Condon and Walter Davis. Now MGM have brought the 1983 sci-fi horror film to Blu-ray.

Charles Bigelow (Paul Le Mat, Hanoi Hilton) is a university professor searching for his ex-wife (Diana Scarwid, Extremeties), who seems to have disappeared while visiting her hometown of Centerville, Illinois. In fact, the place turns out to be a hotbed of aliens, in place since the Fifties and weirdly unaware of how the outside world has changed.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a classic we all have probably watched the 50s original or the remake. Strange Invaders has a real "Invasion" feel to it, but there are some fun moments that kind of break up the 'horror' but is really nice. It makes this film a lot of fun to watch.

Along with great performance by Paul Le Mat, there is a tremendous supporting cast including Nancy Allen (Robocop), Michael Lerner (Eight Men Out), Louise Fletcher (The Flowers in the Attic), Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride), Fiona Lewis (Inner Space), and June Lockhart (Lost in Space).

Strange Invaders have been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p in 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The soundtrack is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

MGM's transfer of this movie to Blu-ray is quite impressive! The picture quality is crisp and clean the colors are bright and vibrant and there are no signs of damage to this print. The soundtrack is clear with no hiss or pops. It is quite the beautiful copy of this sci-fi horror film.

Now for most physical media fans these releases are all about the bonus features included. Sadly, MGM here added no bonus features to this Blu-ray release. I would have liked to see an audio commentary, an interview or even a trailer. But there is just the option for English subtitles.

Now as much as I would like to have seen bonus features included, I am not disparaging this release. The transfer looks amazing, so much so that I deem it defiantly worth picking up a copy if you love 80s sci-fi horror films. 

So, if you love the sci-fi creature features of the 1980s as much as I do, you need Strange Invaders in your collection. Head over to MovieZyng and order your copy today!


Out of 4 Film Reels (4 Being the Best) The Blu-ray of Strange Invaders receives.....