Fabulous Films in the UK have released the 1953 Sci-Fi classic It Came From Outer Space onto Blu Ray, starring Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush and directed by Jack Arnold.
Amateur astronomer John Putnam (Richard Carlson) and his fiancée Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush) are stargazing in the desert when a spaceship bursts from the sky and crashes to the ground. Just before a landslide buries the ship, a mysterious creature emerges and disappears into the darkness. Of course, when he tells his story to the sheriff (Charles Drake), John is branded a crackpot; but before long, strange things begin to happen, and the tide of disbelief turns.
The film has been released before in the UK by Universal and this seems to be the same transfer. What you don’t get with this release is the 3D version of the film, just 2D which may be because the recent 3D fad has faded, and they did not think there would be demand for it.
The film itself is a typical 50s paranoia sci-fi film, simplistic by today’s standards but enjoyable if you take it in context. The film takes its time to build tension, the Arizona desert locations help a lot in this aspect and the acting is standard but enjoyable for this type of classic movie. Special effects are minimal but effective, you are not shown the aliens too much which helps but you do lack the 3D immersive ness which impressed people so much back when it as released.
The pictures black and white 1080p transfer is OK, contrast is good, blacks a little grey looking and I did notice some light scratches on some scenes early in the film. Close-ups look sharp and grain is pretty good.
Audio gives you a nice and clean DTS mono and is what you would expect from a film of this time. Extras give you a feature Commentary with film historian Tom Weaver, The Universe According to Universal: An Original Documentary on It Came From Outer Space, Theatrical Trailers and a Photograph and Poster Gallery.
A fun vintage sci-fi which is much more enjoyable in 3D but sadly on this release is 2D only.
FILM – 7 PICTURE – 7 AUDIO – 8 EXTRAS – 7
