Los visitantes de la galaxia

Nice looking ladies, brief nudity, acceptable (extraterrestrial) kids with a robot nanny, a few special effects and a confusion of genres: A comedy with piles of dead bodies ? Sci-fi built on one person's imagination ? Still, there are some nice moments, e.g. the girls locked up in the kitchen with the "bleeding" monster. The prevailing impression is "soft". Take your grandchildren to view this movie.

This is a movie that's very nostalgic for people from ex-Yougoslavia such as myself because of the way it was shot, locations, clothes, setting. It's a sci-fi comedy with a special vibe and twisted humor,trashy special effects that add to the experience with actors who still play in these lands till today. I would even say a classic of the era, a must watch especially if you are from the Balkans, watch it with friends! I think this is sort of an abandonware because both countries that co-produced this don't exist any more (Yugoslavia and Chekoslovakia) so you can find it on Youtube these days. A definitive must watch for sci-fi trash fans.

A man from Zagreb is writing a science fiction horror story, about a couple of child aliens- and their android keeper- that hail from the Arkana galaxy.

While writing, he gets right into the zone...which annoys his girlfriend...who is constantly making fun of his techniques.

Effectively, he wears a cosplay helmet, while fantasizing that he is part of their world...while recording his story onto a tape recorder.

That is...until the characters start speaking to him, through this same device...claiming they have landed on the island across from his flat.

Unsure of whether this is really happening, or if he has just been sucked into his own delusional fantasy world...he starts to investigate.

And when he gets to the island...he does meet the characters he created.

The humanoid aliens are like children, while the android acts as if she's their mother.

The only thing is, he was about to write the alien boy out of the story...replacing him, instead, with a cosmic beast that might get him a toy deal.

But this plan seems to have failed...because the boy has still become manifest into reality.

And he has brought the toy monster with him...

A toy monster which has the ability to grow into a kaiju-like beast.

Thinking he's gone completely mad, he seeks out professional help.

Telling the shrink a bizarre story, about how he was raised alone by his father...who couldn't afford milk to feed him...which led him to grow breasts to breastfeed his starving son with.

However, instead of straight up institutionalizing him, the psychologist suggests that he might possess the power of telurgy.

Telurgy being the ability to manifest something physically into existence, through mere acts of will.

In other words, fantasy induced magic.

To confirm whether this is truly the case...he brings his girlfriend with him to the island, so that she can confirm or deny whether these aliens actually exist, or that he has just lost his mind.

And she's the best!

She indulges his fantasies, even though her sister encourages her to shun him for them.

Though, little does she suspect...that she would be able to see them too.

So, now he knows he's definitely not insane...and that there is something to this whole telurgy thing.

But him bringing his girlfriend upsets the aliens...so they turn her into a cube!

Despite the fact that these extraterrestrial entities are seemingly advanced life forms...the young writer is effectively their God.

For it was his imagination that willed their entire galaxy into existence.

Giving the whole tale a self-reflexive spin (as he's now writing a story, about him writing a story, in which he is also a character).

But things start to get out of hand when the alien boy cuts off the android's finger (which she just replaces like a lizard would it's tail).

Because another young boy, whose father works on the island, ends up finding it and bringing it to his family's restaurant...just as a guard there is telling people about how he was abducted by these aliens and experimented on.

Now, large groups of (mostly nude) onlookers are flocking to the island, with hopes of seeing these mysterious aliens for themselves.

To show that his fantastical story has taken on a "real" life aspect of it's own...

Because a group of spear fisherman manage to make contact with the aliens, and are attacked...alerting the naked hoards...who descend upon the cave where they have been staying, to show their good will, as ambassadors of Earth.

Though, luckily for the author, his alien friends go into hiding before they are discovered...having moved into his house, where they have taken it upon themselves to do his domestic chores.

Which only creates new problems...as the author and the android character he has created start to fall in love with one another.

Because, when his girlfriend eventually escapes from the cube and discovers them together...she gets extremely jealous...and leaves him.

Which, in turn, leads to the monster getting loose, and freaking everyone out.

Because, even though it means no harm- as it just wants to smell flowers- there's always that one guy who gets afraid and tries to shoot the poor thing.

Which only legitimately pisses it off...and sends it on a tirade.

Giving everyone a reason to be afraid...as it starts to take them out, one by one...in extremely comical fashion.

It's only when our protagonist shows up, that he is able to turn the creature back into a toy, and bring the whole ordeal to an end.

But the damage that has been done...and there is only one way to fix it...

The whole thing is a magically brilliant story that is fueled by imagination.

After the first couple of minutes, I thought it was going to be a total crapfest.

But it's actually probably one of my favourite sci-fi horror films of alltime.

As it's both a charming fantasy, and wonderfully hilarious comedy, all at the same time.

With some awesome special effects, no less- that combine animation, with some well done make-up and creature effects; and even some stop motion!

And the whole self-reflexive element, gives the story a sense of depth.

I'd definitely qualify this as a must-see, as it's not an experience you want to miss.

Possibly one of the most underrated films of all time.

10 out of 10.

If you're a fan of good-humored low-budget sci-fi that lives on its words and ideas floating upon a theatrical canvas, then I think this might be a movie you'll fall in love with. I surely did. It's all about the imagination! So, how far does it dare to tread? I love the way the monster was put into the picture! There is quite some gore at a certain point. It's definitely not suitable for children. But the way the violence comes undone does seem and work like a fairytale trick on the mind. Quite refreshing for its original blend of genres and emotional honesty! The direction is accurate and non-intrusive. The script: magical! The story and its main characters are the real stars here. All the actors are very competent and Zarko Potocnjak does his part with a trace of irony that perfectly befits his role.

Cinematography of Ex-Yugoslavia was really big and strong but it hadn't many sci-fi movies, "Visitors from The Arkana Galaxy " or Gosti Iz Galaksije on Serbo-Croatian was only sci-fi movie produced in Ex-Yugoslavia. I was really curious to see this movie because it is made in a country in which i was born, and i was really delighted when i finally seen it. Yes effects are kind of trashy and look like they are from the 60's but somehow it gave movie special vibe. Story is also nice and very imaginative, the biggest plus for me in the movie is humour, Yugoslavian humour is something unique, it is twisted and dark but it is what i really like. Also i must say ladies in this movie just look perfect especially Czech actress Ksenia Prohaska, she plays one of the main characters alien-android Andra, i fell in love really. This movie is really a must for all lovers of weird and retro science fiction.

My grade: 7/10.