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An intelligent well-acted science fiction thriller despite budgetary constraints and a rather ludicrous plot.
Directed by John Gilling
Written by Frank Crisp (1963 novel)
Screenplay: Jim O'Connolly
Produced by Ronald Liles
Cinematography: Stephen Dade
Edited by: Philip Barnikel
Music composed and directed by: John Gregory
Production company: Armitage Film Productions Ltd.
Distributed by: Butcher's Film Service (UK)
Running time: 85 minutes
Cast
John Saxon as Dr. Jack CostainMaurice Denham as Dr. Morley
Patricia Haines as Ann Barlow
Alfred Burke as Detective Supintendent Hartley
John Carson as the Major
Warren Mitchell as Reg Lilburn
Marianne Stone as Madge Lilburn
Stanley Meadows as Detective Tom Grant
Aubrey Morris as Thorburn
Ballard Berkeley as Commander Savage
Geoffrey Lumsden as Colonel Davy
Tom Gill as Police Commissioner's secretary
Jack Watson as Sergeant Hawkins
Barbara French as Joyce Malone
Key Scene
From the cold void of Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede… comes a terrifying quest for Earth’s women!… SEE IT… if you dare!
A mysterious sphere crashes to Earth… unlocking a nightmare beyond imagination that will surely SHATTER YOUR SENSES!
Clawing its way out of the shadows… a hideous creature on a mission of interplanetary survival!… DON’T LOOK AWAY!
Science cannot stop it… the military cannot contain it… and young women everywhere… are its PREY!
The Night Caller from Outer Space will
CHILL you…
THRILL you…
and ...
HAUNT your dreams FOREVER!
Read on for more...
Spoilers follow below...
Image generated by Chatgpt
“It's headed straight for London….. it's changing course!”
Dr. Morley, Dr. Jack Costain, and Ann Barlow observe n object on radar that’s over a 100 miles up and coming in from space at over 10,000 mph when suddenly it slows down rapidly indicating that it may be a ‘meteorite’ that will probably “disintegrate as soon as it hits the Earth's atmosphere.”
“There is no doubt that a large object landed here and disappeared”
Using their radar to determine where the object has landed, Morley and Costain head out to to the landing site to investigate. Military personnel allow them to enter the area where, eventually, a basketball-sized object is found. It will later be found to have a surface temperature of 25 degrees below zero!
When they arrive at the site they find that the military have begun to cordon off the area and are are conducting a search for whatever has landed. Inevitably the word “security” is bandied about and the two scientists have to present their credentials in the form of security papers indicating that they are cleared by Army security.
Contrary to Morley and Costain’s expectations, the Major (who by the way sounds a lot like the actor, James Mason) in charge of operation "Tooth Comb” (get it?) informs them that “there is no 20t object and no crater” and that a helicopter search found “nothing that's extraordinary.” However, all technical evidence and calculations do suggest that a large object had indeed “landed here and disappeared.”
Eventually, an small spherical object is located. Unexpectedly, little radiation is found to be coming from the object and it is determined to be safe to approach it. Even though it is thought that the object “must have been a white hot mass of flames a few hours ago” its temperature now is well below freezing! As to the object’s origin? That is anyone’s guess…...At the moment, all that can agreed on is that “it must have been guided down with fantastic accuracy - inhuman accuracy….
“Yes, its potentialities are quite alarming”
At Fasley Park Government Radio and Electronics Research Establishment there’s a flurry of activity with preparations being made for the lodging and study of the mysterious object. Once again, the word “security” is thrown about by the Major. Preliminary investigation of the sphere with x-rays determine that it is hollow inside and the surface temperature is 25° below zero. The shell seems to be made of silicate of some kind.
So, where does the sphere come from? Mars? Or as the political and intelligence establishment would have it, “a satellite one of our friends has sent up.” Possession of the object may offer the Brits the chance to discover its secrets and possibly take their “knowledge forward 50 or more years.” More to the point though is the increasing certainty that no “human mind thought it up” and nor had “any human hand built it.”
They inform the Major that their preliminary examination has revealed that the sphere is “made of an undetermined silicone-type material” that “forms an exterior protective shell of 3 mm thick” and that the sphere’s interior consists of “a lattice of carbon filaments but the bulk of the interior contains nothing but a vacuum.” In addition, the sphere is not radioactive. Not unexpectedly, the Major seeks reassurance that the sphere is not a weapon and is informed that it is not an atomic device and contains no fissile material.
Once again, the matter of the sphere’s origin is raised and all Costain can offer is that at the moment he has no idea. Quite a refreshing admission coming as it does from someone who is deemed to be an expert and is expected to have all the answers. How many so-called experts these days openly admit to not knowing something in their area of expertise when confronted by inexplicable phenomena.
And speaking of knowledge, its dissemination and application: who should be responsible? Scientists? The political class? The military? Private / corporate sector? As far as Anne, Costian and Morely are concerned, “the less the military knows at this stage the better.” Any information concerning the sphere’s secrets will have to be divulged “gently so they can assimilate it.” But why? Possibly because as Morley states, “its potentialities are quite alarming.”
After having his overtures and advances once again rebuffed, Costain leaves Ann behind as she stays on at the lab to finish up some work. So far, Anne comes across as a rather buttoned-up cold fish of a woman devoted to her work and her reserved and ordered appearance speaks volumes about her personality. Even her expression is pompous and superior as she rattles off technical explanations to the seemingly intellectually inferior lay person like the Major. Is that also a look of disdain on her face?
“I don't think I'm getting through to him”
Meanwhile, it seems that the Major’s superiors in Whitehall are having trouble understanding the Major and Morley’s report concerning the current situation involving the sphere from outer space. In exasperation, the major tells Morley that the big wig on the end of the telephone line “doesn't understand a bloody word" he's saying! It appears that their political and bureaucratic masters are little more than idiots which in any era is not really all that surprising when you come to think about it.
“Rational explanation, rubbish!”
As Ann stays late in the lab working on her notes, something – some force - emanating from the room containing the sphere is having a disquieting effect on her. She then becomes aware of a bright light coming from the adjoining room. As if impelled to approach the room, Anne gets up and goes to check on it. Upon opening the door, a hideous clawed hand suddenly reaches for her arm and she rushes in panic to hit the facility’s security alarm. Her slightly disordered hair reflects the beginnings of an unravelling process of the logical and ordered underpinnings and certainties of her life.
Not so the erstwhile major whose training is firmly rooted in firm realities that can be observed, explained, assessed and dealt with. After the discovery of an unusual footprint out side the storeroom window, as far as he is concerned, “it stands to reason” that the footprint couldn't have been made by any animal they know of and that therefore “it must have been made by a man.” The logical conclusion: Anne is merely “the victim of a practical joke” perpetrated by one or more of the soldiers under his command.
Despite the major’s “fairly rational explanation,” a feeling of unease remains as reflected in the Major’s attempts at levity which the scientists don’t respond to at all. After the Major departs on an awkward note, there is a feeling that much still needs to be done considering the fact that if no-one could have gotten in or out of the locked storeroom then who stopped Anne from opening the door last night? In addition, who held the door from the other side and whose footsteps did she hear? Finally, there’s the matter about the claw Anne referred to and how “the thing” she encountered got out of the storeroom by the time the soldiers arrived!
So many questions and not enough answers! What is certain is that accepting what Anne has experienced, everything points to it having “something to do with this sphere.” The three scientists decide that they had better quickly find out what that something is “for everyone's safety.”
“An energy valve of incredible power - of power quite beyond our comprehension”
The three scientists eventually come to the conclusion that the sphere is an “energy valve of complex and fantastic ingenuity.” While trying to trace the source of interference which cut the radio and television reception, it was determined that its occurrence coincided with the time that Costain left the lab and when Anne felt ill.
It appears that the valve permits the transmission of matter over great distances, “from some other planet received by the sphere and converted into its original form.” It then follows that they have had “a visitor from space!” The question now remains: “what did it come for?”
“The sphere must be emitting a radiation that is injurious to the human being”
It is the next night and Morley is determined to observe the sphere alone while the others monitor what happens in the lab. Despite the scientists’ appreciation of the gravity of the situation, the same can’t be said for the military personnel charged with providing security. The whole thing is a bit of a laugh with one of the soldiers “wondering what we do if a Martian popped out of that thing,” and his Sergeant replying straight-faced, “you'd place him under closer arrest and you'd march him smartly to the guard room, that's what you do.”
With Morley alone with the sphere in the adjoining storeroom, the tension begins to mount. As the sphere starts to activate and Morley’s report comes through, The emotional strain is reflected by Anne’s expression of concern and anguidh. Given what is happening and what she has experienced, she is no longer a vision of cool emotionless calm.
The tense atmosphere of anticipation is heightened by the pervading silence and the play of light and shade within the dim confines of the storeroom. Gradually the sphere begins to emit a brilliant light which increases in intensity and it appears to be having a physical affect on Morley.
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Outside, the Sergeant reports that one of the soldiers “thought they saw someone jump from the store-room window” whereupon “they challenged him but he ran off.” The Sergeant then spotted him and opened fire but the target seemed to have just disappeared as if “one minute he was there, next minute – nothing.” All that could be said by way of identification of the fleeing figure is that it was “a sort of a black shape.”
Unknown to Costain, Anne and the military is that the black shape is indeed an alien who after killing Morley, escaped out of the store-room window and commandeered a vehicle which it has used to abscond from the base, but not before running down and killing the major. Somehow it had learned how to hot-wire and drive a car at speed! It had better hope it’s not a manual drive!
“Somewhere along the line there must be a bridge between science and criminal detection”
Reports soon arise about young women disappearing. A common denominator to the missing girls is that they all responded to an ad placed in the Bikini Girl magazine by the alien who is using the name Medra. Shortly thereafter, teenage girls begin to go missing after answering an advertisement in Bikini Girl magazine
SPACE CREATURE
NEW DEVELOPMENT
DAILY CLARION
RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT BATTLE
FOUR WEEL OLD MYSTERY DEEPENS
With reports in the media appearing concerning the disappearance of young women, Costain meets with Detective Supintendent Hartley. It appears that Costain has been been leaking his story to the Press as he felt it was the “only way to get all that's happened into the limelight,” as well as to obtain the cooperation of the police. Hartley, along with the rest of Scotland Yard, “view the whole thing with incredulity” but nevertheless “can't afford to ignore anything no matter how far-fetched.”
What is known so far:
- “With one or two exceptions,” the missing girls don’t have any known living relatives.
- The perpetrator of the crimes has been seen standing outside the homes of some of the missing girls.
- He has “either murdered these girls or spirited them away taking them back into space” for some as yet unknown purpose.
Later, in response to a letter received this morning from a Madge Lilburn indicating that her daughter has been missing for 3 days, the two men go to interview her and her husband, Reg. Exercising a commendable degree of patience as the story about their daughter disentangles itself from their verbal pin pong narration, Hartley and Costain lean the following;
At a time when so far 21 girls have disappeared in under 3 weeks without a trace, we see a certain you ng and attractive Joyce Malone entering a nondescript building. No doubt another unsuspecting applicant for the sinister and elusive Mr Medra. In the foyer, Joyce is startled when a panel in the wall suddenly slides open and before her sitting behind a desk is Medra himself. Joyce’s view of him is distorted by bright spot lights positioned to shine directly at her. She is then invited to sit down by the reassuring, sonorous, hypnotic and yet vaguely sinister tones of Medra’s voice. A single lamp light positioned before Joyce then acts as a swinging pendulum and together with the hypnotic suggestions being issued by Medras’ voice, Joyce is unwittingly placed into a hypnotic trance – and presumably under his total control.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues and centers around an advertisement from an “independent television film producer” who requires “talented young ladies with looks, personality and ambition" requiring them to write with a recent photograph to a PO box number, 968.
Hard work ahead for any PC or Detective Plod to check all the missing girls homes for copies of Bikini Girl. The sense of urgency has increased with the recent two additional cases of reported missing girls that takes the total now to 23!
1. The investigation has so far revealed the following;
2. “A regular pattern” has been established as follows:
3. The man who delivers the package containing the photographs;
Further investigation has led Hartley to an address in SoHo where a rather slimy perverted character runs a - for want of a better word - ‘business.’ Hartley had prior dealings with this creep and is there to question him about the 200 or more answers to an advertisement in Bikini Girl he received over the last 18 days
Pervert Creep confirmed a few details concerning the mysterious stranger:
6:30pm, Hartley decides to arrange to have himself and a few of his men stake out the place ready to nab him.
Later at an official meeting, Hartley appraises Costain and Anne of his plan to capture Medra and is perhaps over-confident of its success until Costian informs him that their quarry is “superhuman” and “not born of this planet.” In fact, they are “not just up against a “criminal mind” but are instead “fighting an alien civilisation, one at least 100 or maybe a thousand years in advance of ours.”
An astronomical map is then produced showing the solar system which at the time had 9 planets (bring back Pluto!). Attention is drawn to Jupiter and its then believed to be 12 moons! It is from Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede that Costain and Anne proclaim that Medra is from. Why Ganymede?
It has already been determined that the sphere at Falsley Park was a
valve and that it is the slave of a “master system” which is used to transmit and receive matter and available evidence suggests that it is situated on Ganymede.
As to why Medra has come to earth and is involved with the missing girls, so far one can only speculate. Perhaps “they're being abducted for experimental purposes” such as “genetic experiments” that involve “the investigation of man under laboratory conditions.” Speculation is one thing but taking action to find out the truth is another…..
Suddenly, Anne offers the assembled gentlemen a suggestion. Good God! A woman offering up her opinion! It’s the mid-1960s after all, gentlemen! What will they say at the club? Anne informs them that she has already made an application to Medra for an interview and will be meeting him that very night at Thorin's Bookshop, the location where the trap is to be set. Of course, Costain immediately goes into protective mode but Anne’s logic and determination in the end prove to be unassailable. How else will they find out what Medra’s up to as it is believed he won’t be taken alive by the police. Without Medra’s knowledge, all Costain’s work will have been wasted. Sorry Jack, you’re on a hiding to nothing trying to argue with a woman who considers herself not under yours or anyone ease’s “jurisdiction.” Yes sir, the lady will definitely be having it her way!
Later that night the trap is being set up and it hinges on Hartley’s men taking up their positions ready to move in the moment Medra moves into the alley, both ends of which will be sealed off.
- Their daughter, Jean went out at about 7:00pm and indicated that she’d return at 11.00pm.
- Next morning it was discovered that her bed had not been slept in.
- Jean was not the “sort of girl to go off without a word.”
- She was going after a very good job the nature of which she wouldn’t disclose but was very excited about it.
- This may have been related to “that horrible man” who called Thursday night the previous week.
- The stranger asked Mrs Lilburn if her daughter was in but as she wasn’t so he left a parcel with the mother to give to Jean.
- The stranger gave Mrs Lilburn the “creeps” as he stood in the shadows but he did have a “nice” educated-sounding voice.
- A distinguishing feature of the stranger was his heavy breathing as if he had asthma or bronchitis.
- Jean was in possession of a 3D colour photograph,“sort of artistic,” very unusual and “made of a sort of plastic.”
- Jean took the photograph with her when she went to the interview with someone called Mr Medra.
- The job advertisement and interview had been obtained by Jean via the Bikini Girl magazine.
“There is nothing to be afraid of…..you must remember that no harm will come to you - no harm will come to you - no harm will come to….”
“That sort of AD always gets a lot of replies”
Meanwhile, the investigation continues and centers around an advertisement from an “independent television film producer” who requires “talented young ladies with looks, personality and ambition" requiring them to write with a recent photograph to a PO box number, 968.
Hard work ahead for any PC or Detective Plod to check all the missing girls homes for copies of Bikini Girl. The sense of urgency has increased with the recent two additional cases of reported missing girls that takes the total now to 23!
1. The investigation has so far revealed the following;
- A common denominator between all the missing girls is that “they all read a magazine called Bikini Girl.
- All the girls applied for a job advertised in this month's edition of the magazine.
- The advertised job offer in question “was used as a bait.”
2. “A regular pattern” has been established as follows:
- The girls apply for the job
- They go for an interview
- They have their photograph taken
- The photograph is delivered to the girls' homes on the night before they disappear.
3. The man who delivers the package containing the photographs;
- always comes after dark
- always stays in the shadows
- seems to be very tall
- possibly wears a scarf across the lower half of his face
- could be an asthmatic
Further investigation has led Hartley to an address in SoHo where a rather slimy perverted character runs a - for want of a better word - ‘business.’ Hartley had prior dealings with this creep and is there to question him about the 200 or more answers to an advertisement in Bikini Girl he received over the last 18 days
Pervert Creep confirmed a few details concerning the mysterious stranger:
- he always had a scarf covering much of his face
- he was very tall, about 6'5”
- he always had a strange way of keeping in the shadows
- he possibly wears a mask
- he has “horrible green like a snake’s”
- he paid very well for the letters
- he calls for the letters every couple of evenings
6:30pm, Hartley decides to arrange to have himself and a few of his men stake out the place ready to nab him.
“Why has he come to Earth?
Why is he involved with these missing girls?”
Later at an official meeting, Hartley appraises Costain and Anne of his plan to capture Medra and is perhaps over-confident of its success until Costian informs him that their quarry is “superhuman” and “not born of this planet.” In fact, they are “not just up against a “criminal mind” but are instead “fighting an alien civilisation, one at least 100 or maybe a thousand years in advance of ours.”
An astronomical map is then produced showing the solar system which at the time had 9 planets (bring back Pluto!). Attention is drawn to Jupiter and its then believed to be 12 moons! It is from Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede that Costain and Anne proclaim that Medra is from. Why Ganymede?
It has already been determined that the sphere at Falsley Park was a
valve and that it is the slave of a “master system” which is used to transmit and receive matter and available evidence suggests that it is situated on Ganymede.
As to why Medra has come to earth and is involved with the missing girls, so far one can only speculate. Perhaps “they're being abducted for experimental purposes” such as “genetic experiments” that involve “the investigation of man under laboratory conditions.” Speculation is one thing but taking action to find out the truth is another…..
Suddenly, Anne offers the assembled gentlemen a suggestion. Good God! A woman offering up her opinion! It’s the mid-1960s after all, gentlemen! What will they say at the club? Anne informs them that she has already made an application to Medra for an interview and will be meeting him that very night at Thorin's Bookshop, the location where the trap is to be set. Of course, Costain immediately goes into protective mode but Anne’s logic and determination in the end prove to be unassailable. How else will they find out what Medra’s up to as it is believed he won’t be taken alive by the police. Without Medra’s knowledge, all Costain’s work will have been wasted. Sorry Jack, you’re on a hiding to nothing trying to argue with a woman who considers herself not under yours or anyone ease’s “jurisdiction.” Yes sir, the lady will definitely be having it her way!
“Haven't you learned that futility of violence?”
Later that night the trap is being set up and it hinges on Hartley’s men taking up their positions ready to move in the moment Medra moves into the alley, both ends of which will be sealed off.
- she’s frightened
- she has been lying
- she came to ask Medra ab out the purpose of his presence on Earth
- she wants to learn the secrets of Medra’s planet and to find out what has become of the abducted girls.
By way of answer, Medra points out to Anne that his civilization “interfered with the laws of the universe” and “found it impossible to suppress the emotions of love and hate” and so slipped “back into the dark Abyss.” He then goes on to offer up a Darwinian-sounding bit of philosophising explaining that “the problem of life is that there is always an enemy who will kill or be killed” and that “there is always someone to fear.” As far as Medra is concerned, he fears what he can’t control, namely an intelligence that is almost equal to his such as a mind that
Ann e possesses. Medra then proceeds to brutally kill Anne. The bastard!
Hartley and Costain burst into the premises only to find Anne lying on floor dead and Medra having just departed. Costain is distraught over Anne’s death but there is nothing for it except to continue with the task of tracking down Medra and putting an end to his crimes of murder and abduction.
While plans are put into effect to construct a powerful and effective means of detection, an announcement is broadcast on TV calling for “any girl who applied for a position in answer to an advertisement that appeared in this month's edition of Bikini Girl magazine under the box number 968” to contact the nearest police station immediately. The urgency of the matter is stressed by informing the public that “by answering the advertisement these girls have placed themselves in great danger.”
The new detection method will involve determining the wavelengths of the sphere and then plot its position using the Jodrell Bank radio telescope, the American radar early warning system in Yorkshire and detectors in Cornwall and London. Where the lines converge that will be the site of the sphere.
Learning that Joyce Malone whom we saw earlier at an ‘interview’ with Medra has just had a photograph delivered to her, it is surmised that if the established patter is adhered to then she will in all likelihood go missing later that night. Hartley quickly heads off to question Joyce.
Joyce is able to remember something of the interview with Medra , namely that it was a strange interview as well as something of its setting. Of Medra, all she can recall is his “wonderful voice, kind and soothing.” However, she can’t remember him standing in the room, the actual interview itself nor of the photograph having been taken. The only thing she remembers after Medra speaking to her “was being in the street outside his office.” Joyce is convinced that she couldn’t be in any danger to which Hartley replies “that's just why you are in danger, because you don't believe it.”
A raid on Medra’s office reveals that it is absolutely deserted as if he had never been there. What’s more, Joyce has succumbed to a force that appears to be emanating from then photograph she received and she appears to be under Medra’s control. Medra soon picks Joyce up and departs with her in the stolen vehicle.
A car chase ensues while a message comes through from Jodrell Bank that a signal from the sphere has been picked up followed by another receiving station picking up the signal. It becomes apparent to Costain that Medra doesn’t care that he’s being tracked and pursued.
As to what needs to be done if and when Medra is tracked down and trapped, there is a difference of opinion between the position of the scientist, Costain and the interests of security in the form of Detective Hartley and the military. Costain believes their task is “primarily to destroy the Sphere, not Medra on the grounds that he needs “an opportunity to communicate with him.” The destruction of the sphere will “eliminate his only means of mobility” thereby rendering him “as helpless as a genie without a lamp.”
Finally, the location of their quarry has been established and they soon have Medra surrounded with every exit guarded.
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With flames as a backdrop, Medra emerges and informs the humans surrounding him that with his mission completed he’lll be returning to his planet soon and that there’s nothing they can do to stop him.
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Medra’s mission is to seek human women for breeding purposes on Ganymede as a means of overcoming mutations and ultimately their species’ own extinction. Their civilisation had reached the stage of possessing “knowledge that could lead to eternal peace and progress but also embodying the darker powers of universal destruction.” Those who survived “were terrible to look upon” and “ it took centuries of procreation before signs of normality began to appear.” Medra assures the assembled humans that no harm will come to the women and that his people have learned their lesson. Before leaving Medra tells them that one day he may return…..if it isn't too late!
Night Caller from Outer Space is also known as The Night Caller and Blood Beast from Outer Space. It was the first science fiction film featuring John Saxon who was a familiar face and stalwart actor in movies and series throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
The film does a quite an admirable job of combining both the science fiction and detective / mystery genres with most of the first half taken up by the former and the second half by the latter. The film also effectively combines both drama and humor with a few moments of levity used to off-set the serious nature of proceedings. For instance, the Sergeant’s admonishing the none too bright troops and the poor Major’s attempts at being sociable with the all too serious scientists.
I found the ending rather disappointing with the humans just standing about while the alien intruder babbles on about conditions on his home planet and vowing one day to return to earth. At least there’s not too much of the admonishing finger wagging at humanity for its perceived sins and an implied direct threat to its existence if it continues to persist with its wicked ways. Nor does the film descend into the usual happy ending with everything being resolved and redemption for all concerned. But seriously, did we need to have that sparkler ascending into the sky at the end?
As far as alien incursions go, if an alien wanted to find women to help repopulate its home planet, would it really resort to placing a wanted ad in a Bikini Girl magazine? If anything it serves as a statement on the power of vanity, people’s capacity for gullibility along with the predatory and exploitative nature of human beings. I guess our modern- day social media would prove to be a bonanza for the likes of any aspiring alien Medra!
Speaking of abducting humans for the purposes of re-population or procreation, the film presents a gender reversal to the scenario as presented in the 1950s classic, Devil Girl From Mars that's featured in this blog.
One thing I admire about British film makers is their ability to produce films that, despite the lack of budget, come across as quality pieces of cinema achieved through solid acting, good pacing, competent direction and engaging dialogue. Many of the British sci-fi films in this blog manage to achieve just that as to an extent Night Caller From Outer Space manages to do.
Night Caller From Outer Space raises an interesting consideration of the means by which an intelligence species could traverse the universe without being constricted by the laws of physics as we know them. In the film, a form of matter transportation is used to move beings from one location to another. We are right now perhaps on the cusp of being able to use such technology to transport molecules but who knows what will be achieved in the future? Perhaps one day the limits imposed by distance, space and time might be circumvented by the ability to travel instantaneously by a process akin to thought-travel utilizing corridors or filaments in space connecting different regions throughout the universe? It could be that other intelligent advanced civilizations may be employing laws of physics we are not even aware of.
The film was made at a time when reports began to emerge of alien abductions and alien experimentation on humans. This also raises the question of what would be the motivation of any alien species coming to our planet. The film wisely dispels the overly optimistic assumption that contact between Earth and an alien species would be motivated by a spirit of altruism or a quest for knowledge and understanding. Take out own faltering steps into the cosmos for instance. Once we might have emphasised our need for understanding our place in the universe along with our nature to explore as being reasons to venture out beyond the confines of our planet. After 50 or 60 years of attempting just that, what do we now seem to emphasise? Words like ‘knowledge’, ‘understanding’ and ‘exploration’ are being supplanted by a focus on winning a ‘race,’ the need to ‘colonize’ and the opportunity to ‘exploit.” In other words, the universe is seen as being a resource for humanity’s exclusive use. Could it be that an equally rapacious alien race would have something to say about all this and may in fact view us and our planet as a resource to exploit, perhaps for its very own survival?
“We're dealing with a creature not only of superhuman intelligence and power but one also possessing a primordial lust for violence and savagery”
Later, Costain theorises that it is “evident that we're dealing with a creature not only of superhuman intelligence and power but one also possessing a primordial lust for violence and savagery.” In his opinion, “Medra could be the forerunner of a full-scale invasion” – an invasion that could be made all the more possible by the matter transfer device. Therefore, it is imperative that they “track down that sphere and destroy it before it's too late!” While plans are put into effect to construct a powerful and effective means of detection, an announcement is broadcast on TV calling for “any girl who applied for a position in answer to an advertisement that appeared in this month's edition of Bikini Girl magazine under the box number 968” to contact the nearest police station immediately. The urgency of the matter is stressed by informing the public that “by answering the advertisement these girls have placed themselves in great danger.”
The new detection method will involve determining the wavelengths of the sphere and then plot its position using the Jodrell Bank radio telescope, the American radar early warning system in Yorkshire and detectors in Cornwall and London. Where the lines converge that will be the site of the sphere.
“I can't believe I could be in any danger from Mr Medra.”
“That's just why you are in danger, because you don't believe it”
Joyce is able to remember something of the interview with Medra , namely that it was a strange interview as well as something of its setting. Of Medra, all she can recall is his “wonderful voice, kind and soothing.” However, she can’t remember him standing in the room, the actual interview itself nor of the photograph having been taken. The only thing she remembers after Medra speaking to her “was being in the street outside his office.” Joyce is convinced that she couldn’t be in any danger to which Hartley replies “that's just why you are in danger, because you don't believe it.”
A raid on Medra’s office reveals that it is absolutely deserted as if he had never been there. What’s more, Joyce has succumbed to a force that appears to be emanating from then photograph she received and she appears to be under Medra’s control. Medra soon picks Joyce up and departs with her in the stolen vehicle.
A car chase ensues while a message comes through from Jodrell Bank that a signal from the sphere has been picked up followed by another receiving station picking up the signal. It becomes apparent to Costain that Medra doesn’t care that he’s being tracked and pursued.
“ I don't think I've made myself clear; we're trying primarily to destroy the sphere, not Medra.”
As to what needs to be done if and when Medra is tracked down and trapped, there is a difference of opinion between the position of the scientist, Costain and the interests of security in the form of Detective Hartley and the military. Costain believes their task is “primarily to destroy the Sphere, not Medra on the grounds that he needs “an opportunity to communicate with him.” The destruction of the sphere will “eliminate his only means of mobility” thereby rendering him “as helpless as a genie without a lamp.”
Finally, the location of their quarry has been established and they soon have Medra surrounded with every exit guarded.
“Is that why you came to Earth, to find new blood?”
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Points of Interest
Night Caller from Outer Space is also known as The Night Caller and Blood Beast from Outer Space. It was the first science fiction film featuring John Saxon who was a familiar face and stalwart actor in movies and series throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
The film does a quite an admirable job of combining both the science fiction and detective / mystery genres with most of the first half taken up by the former and the second half by the latter. The film also effectively combines both drama and humor with a few moments of levity used to off-set the serious nature of proceedings. For instance, the Sergeant’s admonishing the none too bright troops and the poor Major’s attempts at being sociable with the all too serious scientists.
I found the ending rather disappointing with the humans just standing about while the alien intruder babbles on about conditions on his home planet and vowing one day to return to earth. At least there’s not too much of the admonishing finger wagging at humanity for its perceived sins and an implied direct threat to its existence if it continues to persist with its wicked ways. Nor does the film descend into the usual happy ending with everything being resolved and redemption for all concerned. But seriously, did we need to have that sparkler ascending into the sky at the end?
As far as alien incursions go, if an alien wanted to find women to help repopulate its home planet, would it really resort to placing a wanted ad in a Bikini Girl magazine? If anything it serves as a statement on the power of vanity, people’s capacity for gullibility along with the predatory and exploitative nature of human beings. I guess our modern- day social media would prove to be a bonanza for the likes of any aspiring alien Medra!
Speaking of abducting humans for the purposes of re-population or procreation, the film presents a gender reversal to the scenario as presented in the 1950s classic, Devil Girl From Mars that's featured in this blog.
One thing I admire about British film makers is their ability to produce films that, despite the lack of budget, come across as quality pieces of cinema achieved through solid acting, good pacing, competent direction and engaging dialogue. Many of the British sci-fi films in this blog manage to achieve just that as to an extent Night Caller From Outer Space manages to do.
Night Caller From Outer Space raises an interesting consideration of the means by which an intelligence species could traverse the universe without being constricted by the laws of physics as we know them. In the film, a form of matter transportation is used to move beings from one location to another. We are right now perhaps on the cusp of being able to use such technology to transport molecules but who knows what will be achieved in the future? Perhaps one day the limits imposed by distance, space and time might be circumvented by the ability to travel instantaneously by a process akin to thought-travel utilizing corridors or filaments in space connecting different regions throughout the universe? It could be that other intelligent advanced civilizations may be employing laws of physics we are not even aware of.
The film was made at a time when reports began to emerge of alien abductions and alien experimentation on humans. This also raises the question of what would be the motivation of any alien species coming to our planet. The film wisely dispels the overly optimistic assumption that contact between Earth and an alien species would be motivated by a spirit of altruism or a quest for knowledge and understanding. Take out own faltering steps into the cosmos for instance. Once we might have emphasised our need for understanding our place in the universe along with our nature to explore as being reasons to venture out beyond the confines of our planet. After 50 or 60 years of attempting just that, what do we now seem to emphasise? Words like ‘knowledge’, ‘understanding’ and ‘exploration’ are being supplanted by a focus on winning a ‘race,’ the need to ‘colonize’ and the opportunity to ‘exploit.” In other words, the universe is seen as being a resource for humanity’s exclusive use. Could it be that an equally rapacious alien race would have something to say about all this and may in fact view us and our planet as a resource to exploit, perhaps for its very own survival?
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