Et tu, Klaatu? (video blog/contest)

20th Century Fox spent $80 million to remake THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. Perhaps they believed that by “re-imagining” Robert Wise‘s classic, they were paying tribute to that unmatched era of sci-fi storytelling. Whoops. Director Scott Derrickson‘s efforts at homage were no more successful than Pierce Brosnan‘s song-stylings in MAMMA MIA!

If you truly wish to see a genre flick that both celebrates and sends up its cinematic ancestors, check out ALIEN TRESPASS. Directed by RW Goodwin — one of The X-Files‘ conspiratorial producers — the high-spirited, low-budgeted romp perfectly emulates the fantastic films of the 50s. It’s got the preposterously rubber-suited creature, the purposely wooden-smirked performances (Kudos, Eric McCormack!) and the grandiloquent, tin-eared dialogue that recapture every matinee memory from THE BLOB to IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE. Goodwin‘s techniques are flawless, recreating rear-projection and reel changes so convincing you’ll assume you just stepped into a theater in PLEASANTVILLE.

ALIEN TRESPASS is a mirthful throwback, pure joy for audiences who’d rather have an intentional laugh than one at the expense of Keanu Reeves, aka the THE DAZE THE EARTH STOOD FOR.

Click here for my interview with RW Goodwin. Listen to the entire podcast, identify the world’s greatest theremin player — according to the filmmaker — post your answer on this blog and you’ll be eligible to win a full set of official, 50s-style lobby cards for ALIEN TRESPASS. More importantly, go see the movie. Right now. The fate of mankind depends on you. (Watch today’s THINK! piece, below, for a more gesture-filled argument. Speak, hands, for me!)