The Night Caller

Whether you refer to it as "The Night Caller From Outer Space" or by its alternate title, "Blood Beast From Outer Space" (OR, as it simply appears on this great-looking Image DVD under its original British appellation, "The Night Caller"), this sci-fi film from 1965 is an intelligent, restrained, moody and highly effective winner. In it, scientist John Saxon, working at England's Falsley Park research station, grapples with a mysterious sphere that has touched down on the moors, direct from the Jovian moon Ganymede. The film cleaves fairly evenly into two discrete sections. In the first, Saxon and his Falsley coworkers (including blond, no-nonsense Ann Barlow, played by the excellent Patricia Haines) conduct tests on the sphere and endeavor to puzzle out its mysteries. In the latter half, Saxon assists Scotland Yard in its investigation of the disappearances of several dozen young women, all of whom had answered an ad for a modeling job in "Bikini Magazine." Whereas the film's first segment suggests nothing less than a British variant of the classic TV program "The Outer Limits," the second half turns quite noirish as director John Gilling (who, the following year, would helm, for Hammer Studios, the psychotronic greats "The Plague of the Zombies" and "The Reptile") utilizes moody nighttime photography, deep shadows and disorienting camera angles; call this film sci-fi Brit noir. "The Night Caller" is fairly reminiscent of another Shepperton Studios film that I recently saw, 1964's "The Earth Dies Screaming." Both are modestly budgeted but well-done films featuring stunning B&W photography and helmed by directors more often associated with Hammer (Terence Fisher, in "Screaming"'s case). With the exception of "Night Caller"'s very odd opening theme song--a tune sung by Mark Richardson, and more suitable for a Western or romance movie--and a somewhat weak ending, the picture is a surprisingly gripping entertainment throughout.

This is an unusual movie in that it's almost like two entirely separate films merged into one. The film begins with three astronomers observing an object as it travels towards the Earth. It appears to be a meteorite heading towards London. However, at the last moment, it veers away in a manner that could only mean that there is some force or intelligence controlling it--perhaps it's a u.f.o.. The three go in search of the object and come upon the military who has cordoned off the area. As they, too, have top secret clearance and are egg-head scientists, they are invited in for a look.

Oddly, the object is some sort of sphere about the size of a basketball. And, despite traveling through the atmosphere, the object is ice-cold! Obviously this is NOT of this planet, though the dopey military commander keeps asking from which COUNTRY this originated! How dumb can you be?! Later, after extensive tests have been conducted, it is determined that the sphere is hollow and there is nothing much inside other than a vacuum. However, what they don't know is that it is a device that will allow beings to move enormous distances through space--sort of a space travel device. And, when a monstrous-looking beast is transported with it, the scientists and military scramble to find it! Now, the movie switches gears. The film becomes a police tale about the disappearances of some young ladies. After some investigation, the police determine that a madman is luring the girls using a bikini magazine ad that offers to make them models. But, when the ladies respond to the ad, they end up disappearing--and it's happened to quite a few ladies already. All the police know about the identity of the sicko is that he is very large and keeps his identity hidden--standing in shadows and covering his face.

Eventually, one of the egg-heads (John Saxon) learns of the disappearances and assumes (using what logic, I have no idea) that this is somehow related to the alien sphere and the missing creature! How and why the creature is doing this is something you'll need to see for yourself.

Overall, this is a rather interesting film. What I particularly liked was the way the aliens traveled. Instead of a traditional ship, they shoot a sphere from their location to the planet they wish to visit and it is able to transport them! Pretty unusual--and thankfully it made the film more watchable. Overall, a pretty good alien movie--worth watching despite their being a plethora of films in this genre.

Both the colourised UK version and the US version (still in black & white) can been found on YouTube. There are some minor differences between them of which I am aware. One of these is the theme tune. One of these is the scene in Thorntons bookshop, parts of which were re-shot for an American and/or overseas audience. These re-shot scenes replaced the topless pictures that were on display.

My own opinion on the film is that it is a good standard British 60's UK Sci-Fi.

When a UFO lands in rural England, both the military and a group of scientists (John Saxon, Maurice Denham, and Patricia Haines) are bewildered by the basketball-sized object. Soon thereafter, a rash of odd occurrences begin. It seems that the strange sphere has somehow brought a visitor from another world! When young women start vanishing, Scotland Yard gets involved.

It's soon found out that an enigmatic man named Mr. Medra (Robert Crewdson) has opened a modeling agency. What does this man have to do with whatever is going on?

NIGHT CALLER FROM OUTER SPACE is a different sort of alien invasion film, playing more like a detective story / mystery. This movie also manages to delve into the Soho underbelly without becoming lurid. There are some unexpected deaths as well. Saxon is quite good, as are the rest of the cast. A terrific sci-fi / horror film for those in search of something out of the ordinary...

There are already quite a few good comments on this unusual film already. However a major difference is the utterly splendid opening instrumental score over the opening credits!The USA release has lounge type of male vocalist singing the films title!- it is dire indeed.Not so the British release, It is very memorable, and have only recently tracked it down though spent decades trying!A superb piece by Alan Haven called "Image" It seems to encompass everything; it is a mixture of spooky organ music set to a mod (ish) and moderate jazzy tone.Quite unnerving it seems to warn the viewers what lies ahead. The opening scenes have a tracking shot showing London by night, and perfectly fits the mid-sixties feel and period of the time. Medra was scary!!