‘Unearthly Stranger’ is a short, sharp, smart science fiction thriller from 1964. In it, the world’s scientists are close to a breakthrough on space travel – not by rocket, but by harnessing the power of the human mind, a sort of intergalactic astral projection. That’s the theory, anyway, and it’s an interesting one, although every time anyone gets near to cracking the formula they die from a cerebral haemorrhage.
Will British scientist Dr. Mark Davidson (John Neville) finally find the answer, or will he be too distracted by gorgeous new wife, Julie? On the subject of Julie, why does she frighten children, or not need oven gloves to touch white hot casserole dishes? And why does she never blink? The answer may or may not surprise you, but it’s extremely well done, and the conclusion is supremely unnerving.
An unsung gem, ‘Unearthly Stranger’ really is genuinely very good – tense, atmospheric and, most of all, intelligent. It certainly made me look at my wife in a new light.
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