A Incrível Visita do Extraterrestre

The plot of this movie is based on a supposed UFO crash that occurred in 1897 in Aurora, Texas (now debunked by most people who study the subject of UFO's) where it is claimed a UFO hit a windmill and the pilot was given a "Christian Burial" by the townsfolk of the Texas Community. (Such stories were common in 1897, where reporters just made stuff up rather than actually report the news, unlike what happens today cough:not really:Cough)

The plot, such as it is, is confused and non-linear. The acting is sub-par at best.

It starred Spanky McFarland of Little Rascals fame in one of his few adult roles (and proves why the guy's career ended at puberty). It also starred a young actor who got the role of the alien because of the Make A Wish foundation and his condition of premature aging.

The Special Effects are laughable. (You can tell the "Flying Saucer" was in fact a vehicle lifted on some kind of crane.)

How the guys at Mystery Science Theatre missed this one is beyond me. It was right up their alley.

Thirty years ago I read a historical account in UFO literature where a spacecraft crashed into a windmill in a small Texas town back in the late 19th century. The townsfolk found a dead little occupant in the wreckage and gave him a "decent Christian burial". This is the jist of the original story that inspired this film. Everything else in the movie has been added for dramatic effect. One other thing---the place where the alien was supposedly buried has this kind of weird colored fungus or lichen that grows on top of the ground that can't be killed. I saw a picture of the landowner kneeling by the spot. I guess no one ever thought to exhume the grave to find out the truth of the whole matter. And whatever happened to the spaceship wreckage? I thought the movie was very long, dry and boring, the only exception being the little alien scenes.

In the small Texas town of Aurora in the late-19th Century a tiny man (Mickey Hayes) seemingly fell out of the sky. This sets the tone for really the first legitimately-recorded UFO encounter in the U.S. (this is all supposedly based on a true story) as it seems the little man literally flew around in a small craft and was sent to this planet for some unknown reason. The children are entranced by the little fellow, the townspeople are a little frightened and the fright will ultimately lead to a sad tragedy as misunderstanding and prejudice will come into play. Hayes, unable to speak and harmless, meets old hermit Jack Elam (also somewhat an outcast in the small community) as all this transpires and they start a genuinely wonderful friendship as the two apparent opposites seem to have so much in common. "The Aurora Encounter" is one of those films that just seems to stick with me. The bond between Hayes (who suffered in real-life from a disease called Progeria, an illness which made him literally age about four to five times faster than everyone else) and Jack Elam is one of those cinematically magical experiences that I have a hard time explaining. Hayes, only 14 at the time of this film's release, would indeed die in the early-1990s (living to be only 20) from his horrible disease. This is the only film he ever worked on and his obvious kindness and the sympathy the audience feels for him is definitely undeniable. With all this said, "The Aurora Encounter" is still only an average film by the end. It succumbs to cinematic clichés and an unintentional mean-spirit that did not completely endear it with me. Elam (doing probably the best work of his long career) ultimately gets somewhat wasted because of other performers who really have no business in the movies. The direction is up and down and the screenplay is never sure what it wants to be. The movie just never really found an audience when released in 1986 and just became a very small footnote from the decade. If nothing else though, "The Aurora Encounter" should be watched for the scenes where Elam and Hayes are together playing checkers. As ho-hum as the movie is, the time when they are together on the screen is really something to embrace. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

My review was written in August 1986 after watching the film on New World video cassette.

"The Aurora Encounter" is a pleasant, very mild entry in the unusual genre of sci-fi Westerns. Second recent New World release from the filmmaking McCulloughs, who earlier made "Mountaintop Motel Massacre", opened regionally in March and quickly moved to its proper home, the video stores.

With full white beard and ample girth, Jack Elam has fun as the teller of this tall tale concerning a spaceman visiting the small town of Aurora, Texas in the 1800s. Amidst antics by the friendly little guy who brings a magic crystal with him, there is a minor plotline of school marm Alain, pronounced "Elaine" (Carol Bagdasarian), inheriting her dad's newspaper and using it to play up the spaceman's visit while championing women's rights on the side.

A corny, melodramatic climax (plus sentimental denouement) spoils the otherwise acceptable picture which bosts okay visual effects. Diminutive Mickey Hays, a bald monster with genuinely bizarre features made up here to resemble a pint-sized Max Schreck of "Nosferatu", adds to the sci-fi premise. Rest of the cast is interesting, with Bagdasarian a feisty heroine, country singer Dottie West adding sex appeal and former Our Gang comedies star Spanky McFarland popping in as Texas' very short governor.

I live one town over from Aurora, TX. I read about his movie recently in the local newspaper. It is based on a "true story." Local legend holds that the ship did crash, and the alien was buried near Aurora.

It is pretty bad. Jack Elam some how pulls off the really bad dialog, and it is interesting to see an adult Spanky.