The Alien Factor ** (1978, Don Leifert, Tom Griffith, Mary Mertens) – Classic Movie Review 13,221

Three aliens are terrorising the locals after crash-landing on Earth, and the race is on to fight back, in the timid but reasonably made, no-budget 1978 sci-fi horror film The Alien Factor.

Writer/ producer/ director Don Dohler’s 1978 American science fiction horror film The Alien Factor stars Don Leifert, Tom Griffith, and Mary Mertens.

Three aliens are on the loose, terrorising the local residents, after crash-landing on Earth, and the race is on to track them down and fight back, in this timid but (under the circumstances) reasonably smartly made, no-budget fantasy adventure. Don Leifert plays intrepid mysterious Ben Zachary, who claims he can save the day.

Stock special effects, with stop motion animation, and some below-standard performances hold back this fairly well-written and involving space saga, which is certainly enterprising, and commendable for that.

Writer-director Don Dohler plays Ernie. He moved into film-making with this debut film after being laid off from working as a restaurant chain payroll manager for 12 years. He downsized his original script’s 15 monsters to only three, which helped trim the budget to only $3,500.

It was shot on and off from October 1976 to April 1977 in and around Baltimore, Maryland.

The creature suits for the Inferbyce and the Zagtile aliens were designed and built by Larry Schlechter and John Cosentino respectively, while the Leemoid was created in stop motion animation by Ernest D Farino.

The cast are Don Leifert as Ben Zachary, Tom Griffith as Sheriff Cinder, Richard Dyszel as Mayor Wicker, Mary Mertens as Edie Martin, Richard Geiwitz as Pete, George Stover as Steven, Eleanor Herman as Mary Jane Carter, Anne Frith as Dr Ruth Sherman, Don Dohler as Ernie, Christopher Gummer, Johnny Walker, Dave Ellis, Larry Schlechter as the Inferbyce, and John Cosentino as the Zagatile alien.

The Alien Factor is directed by Don Dohler, runs 82 minutes, is made by Cinemagic Visual Effects Productions, is released by Cinemagic Visual Effects and Gold Key Entertainment, is written by Don Dohler, is shot by Britt McDonough, is produced by Don Dohler and scored by Kenneth Walker.

Release date: May 12, 1978.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,221

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