Editing Extra Terrestrial Visitors

{{Short description|1983 French-Spanish science fiction film}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|The Pod People|Pod People (Invasion of the Body Snatchers)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Extra Terrestrial Visitors
| image = Extra_Terrestrial_Visitors_poster.jpg
| caption = Original poster
| native_name      = {{Infobox name module|es|Los nuevos extraterrestres| translation = The New Extra-terrestrials}}
| director = [[Juan Piquer Simón]]
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* Faruk Alatan
* [[Dick Randall (producer)|Dick Randall]]
* [[Edward L. Montoro]]{{efn-lr|Montoro is credited as producer of the U.S.-released version only.}}
}}
| writer = {{Plainlist|
* Joaquín Grau
* Juan Piquer Simón
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* Óscar Martín
* Concha Cuetos
* Manuel Pereiro
}}
| music = {{Plainlist|
* Librado Pastor
* Michael Demer{{efn-lr|Demer's score is used in the 1990 re-release version only.}}
}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* Juan Mariné
* Ricardo Navarrete
}}
| editing = Antonio Gimeno
| studio  = Spectacular Trading Company<ref name=bbfc>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b74e8d6a9|work=[[British Film Institute]]|title=Los Nuevos Extra Terrestres (1983)|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702204743/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b74e8d6a9}}</ref>
| distributor =  Almena Films
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1983|12|13|France|1984|11|26|Barcelona|1984|12|14|U.S.}}
| runtime = 100 minutes
| country = {{Plainlist|
* Spain{{sfn|Hughes|2014|p=140}}
* France{{sfn|Hughes|2014|p=140}}
}}
| language = Spanish
}}
'''''Extra Terrestrial Visitors''''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: '''''Los nuevos extraterrestres''''', {{literal translation}} ''The New Extraterrestrials'') is a 1983 [[science fiction film]] directed by [[Juan Piquer Simón]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mubi.com/films/pod-people|work=[[Mubi (streaming service)|MUBI]]|title=Pod People|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702192211/https://mubi.com/films/pod-people|archive-date=2 July 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> The film's original draft was meant to be a straightforward [[horror film]] about an evil alien on a murderous rampage,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flavorwire.com/603308/our-10-favorite-mystery-science-theater-3000-episodes |title=Our 10 Favorite 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' Episodes |work=[[Flavorwire]]|url-status=live|archive-date=2 July 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702192101/https://www.flavorwire.com/603308/our-10-favorite-mystery-science-theater-3000-episodes|first=Jason|last=Bailey|date= 12 April 2017}}</ref> but the producers demanded script alterations in order to cash in on the success of [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' by featuring a child and a cute, lovable alien.

A co-production between France and Spain, it was first theatrically released in the former country. In the United States, it was sometimes known by the [[alternative title|alternate title]] ''The Unearthling'', and was aired on television bearing this name.

The film was largely forgotten until 1991, when it was lampooned by [[B movie]]-mocking cult TV series ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'',<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Den of Geek]]|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mst3k-13-episodes-to-watch-on-halloween/|date=6 October 2019|last=Jasper|first=Gavin|url-status=live|archive-date=2 July 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702192023/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/mst3k-13-episodes-to-watch-on-halloween/|title=MST3K: The Best Horror Episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/robot-roll-call-mystery-science-theater-3000-cast-share-favorite-2D11624170|title=Robot roll call! 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' cast share favorite episodes as show turns 25|date=24 November 2013 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702191830/https://www.today.com/popculture/robot-roll-call-mystery-science-theater-3000-cast-share-favorite-2D11624170|archive-date=2 July 2023}}</ref> which used a print by [[Film Ventures International]] in which the film was re-titled ''Pod People''.

==Plot==
In the foggy woods of [[New England]], three egg [[poaching|poacher]]s are on the hunt. One of them sees what he thinks is a [[meteor]] land and goes to investigate.  He finds a red glowing cave with a stash of large eggs. He decides to smash them, but is killed by an unseen entity before he can finish, which leaves one egg left intact. The mysterious being takes revenge for the destruction, first killing the other hunters and then going after members of a rock band led by Rick, who are on a weekend camping trip. This band is accompanied by Laura, a girl who Rick met and told about the weekend's plans, not expecting her to want to come along. Sharon, a member of the band, is jealous of Laura, as she (Sharon) is Rick's girlfriend. Cathy and Tracy are also band members.

Tommy is a young boy living in a secluded house with his mother Molly and his short-tempered uncle Bill. He also finds the cave, and brings the remaining egg home where it hatches. The bald-headed, shaggy-bodied creature from the egg grows rapidly overnight until it is as large as Tommy. Tommy nicknames it "Trumpy" because he has a short, [[trumpet]]-like [[Elephant trunk|trunk]]. Tommy and Trumpy quickly become playmates. At one point, Tommy asks Trumpy where he is from. Trumpy indicates a star map which features the Big Dipper prominently. It also becomes clear that Trumpy has developed telekinetic powers around this time, as it flings various objects around Tommy's room. While the mother alien continues to look for her missing offspring, the rock band stops at Tommy's house for medical care after Laura encounters the alien mother and falls off of a cliff, later dying in the house. A strange dot formation (similar to the [[Big Dipper]]) is later seen on her forehead.

Rick's friend Brian and uncle Bill go to a nearby ranger station to use the radio. There they stumble on the alien mother, as well as the body of a second poacher, which also bears the dot pattern. The alien kills Brian while Bill flees to the cabin. The alien beats him home, however, and kills band-member Tracy in the band's [[Campervan|camper]]. Tommy witnesses the attack through his [[telescope]]. The survivors decide to hole up in the cabin until the next day.

Trumpy's mother sneaks into the house and kills Cathy while she is taking a shower. The survivors attempt too late to come to her rescue when they hear Cathy screaming, and Bill manages to wound the alien with a wild shot. Bill and Rick want to catch Trumpy's mother before she can escape, so Rick takes a [[Winchester 1894|rifle]] and they go in pursuit.

Immediately after they leave, Trumpy appears, scaring Molly and Sharon. Molly grabs a rifle and aims to shoot Trumpy, but Tommy protects his alien friend and hustles Trumpy into the woods.  Molly and Sharon give chase, searching for Tommy, Rick, and Bill in the gloom.

Eventually Trumpy and his mother reunite briefly before Rick and Bill find them.  The alien mother attacks Bill, who shoots her once before being killed, then she is gunned down by Rick. Trumpy and Tommy disappear in the woods and say their goodbyes before Tommy reunites with his mother, Sharon, and Rick. The movie ends with Trumpy moving deeper into the woods and Tommy, Rick, Molly, and Sharon heading back to the cabin.

==Cast==
{{Cast list|
* Ian Serra as Rick (as Ian Sera)
* Nina Ferrer as Sharon
* Susana Bequer as Lara Stapleton (as Susan Blake)
* Sara Palmer as Kathy
* Óscar Martín as Tommy Stevens
* Maria Albert as Tracy
* Emilio Linder as Brian (as Emil Linder)
* Concha Cuetos as Molly Stevens (as Connie Cheston)
* Manuel Pereiro as Bill Stevens
* [[Frank Braña]] as Burt
}}

==Production==
''Extra Terrestrial Visitors'' was a co-production between France and Spain, with filming taking place in [[Madrid]].{{sfn|Morgan|2015|p=45}} The cast were largely Spanish actors, though the film was shot in both Spanish and French language and dubbed in post-production.{{sfn|Morgan|2015|p=45}}{{sfn|Sipos|2014|p=227}}

==Release==
''Extra Terrestrial Visitors'' was first released theatrically in France.{{sfn|Morgan|2015|p=45}} It was sometimes screened on American television under the alternate title ''The Unearthling''.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Napa Valley Register|The Napa Valley Register]]|date=19 July 1986|page=33|title=Tuesday Movies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-napa-valley-register/127494282/|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{sfn|Morgan|2015|p=44}}

In 1990, the film was acquired for U.S. television distribution by [[Film Ventures International]], who re-titled it ''Pod People''.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/best-mst3k-episodes/ranking-every-mst3k-episode-from-worst-to-best/|title=  Ranking Every MST3K Episode, From Worst to Best|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702191749/https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/best-mst3k-episodes/ranking-every-mst3k-episode-from-worst-to-best|archive-date=2 July 2023|date=4 December 2018|last=Vorel|first=Jim}}</ref><ref name=cotenas>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdcompare.net/review.php?rid=7431|work=DVDCompare.net|title=Extra Terrestrial Visitors [Blu-ray]|date=21 May 2023|last=Cotenas|first=Eric|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702214014/https://www.dvdcompare.net/review.php?rid=7431|archive-date=2 July 2023}}</ref>

==Reception and legacy==
Chris Morgan, reviewing the ''Pod People'' version of the film, deemed it "one of the worst movies I have ever seen, but fortunately it is bad in a way that is funny."{{sfn|Morgan|2015|pages=47–48}}

===''Mystery Science Theater 3000''===
''Extra Terrestrial Visitors'' gained some popularity in 1991 after it was lampooned by the [[B movie]] series ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' (''MST3K''), which aired a print sourced from Film Ventures International in which the film was re-titled ''Pod People''.{{sfn|Morgan|2015|pages=45–50}} The episode aired in the summer of 1991.{{sfn|Morgan|2015|p=51}}

In common with ''[[Ator 2 – L'invincibile Orion|Cave Dwellers]]'', another Film Ventures release spoofed by ''MST3K'', the opening and ending credits for ''Pod People'' are superimposed over blurred footage from an entirely unrelated movie, in this case ''[[The Galaxy Invader]]'' (1985).{{sfn|Morgan|2015|p=44}} The latter film would later be spoofed by [[Michael J. Nelson|Mike Nelson]], [[Bill Corbett]], and [[Kevin Murphy (actor)|Kevin Murphy]] for [[RiffTrax]] in 2011.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWl43_jCAxE Rifftrax - The Galaxy Invader Sample on official YouTube channel]</ref><ref>[https://www.rifftrax.com/the-galaxy-invader RiffTrax]</ref> ''Pod People'' was selected by fans to be in the ''MST3K'' 2016 and 2020 Turkey Day Marathon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tubitv.com/movies/403493/the-mst3k-turkey-day-marathon-2016-intros|title= The MST3K Turkey Day Marathon 2016|work=[[Tubi]]|access-date=2 July 2023}}</ref>

The film's fictional pop band's performance of "Hear the Engines Roll" (Spanish: "Rugen los motores", {{literal translation}} "The engines roar") is lampooned in a sketch in ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' for its unintelligible lyrics, specifically the chorus, "hear the engines roll now", interpreted by the ''MST3K'' cast as "hideous control now", "idiot control now", and other variations. The lead singer's after-song gesture of making the [[OK (gesture)#Negative_denotations|OK]] sign, smiling, and saying, "It stinks!" became a recurring in-joke on ''MST3K''.

=== Home media ===
In 1985, the film was released on [[VHS]] in Canada, licensed by Cinema Shares International, under the title ''The Unearthling''.<ref name=cotenas/> In the United Kingdom, a VHS was released under the title ''E. T.: The Second Coming''.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=E. T.: The Second Coming|id=CL26-18|publisher=IVS Video|medium=VHS}}</ref>

The ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' version of the film was released by [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Home Video]] as part of the ''Collection, Volume 2'' DVD set which was re-released by [[Shout Factory]] in a multi-film set on 24 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/mst3k-volume-ii?product_id=4595|title=MST3K: Volume II - DVD|work=[[Shout! Factory]]|url-status=live|archive-date=2 July 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702211314/https://shoutfactory.com/products/mst3k-volume-ii}}</ref> The film itself has been released on DVD in 2005 by Substance.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[WorldCat]]|title=Extra Terrestrial Visitors|url=https://worldcat.org/title/1031374664|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702214432/https://worldcat.org/title/1031374664|archive-date=2 July 2023}}</ref> It was re-released on [[Blu-ray]] by [[Severin Films]] on June 27, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/116297/extraterrestrialvisitors.html|title=Extra Terrestrial Visitors (AKA Pod People)|work=High-Def Digest|last=Hartman|first=Matthew|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230702192307/https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/116297/extraterrestrialvisitors.html|archive-date=2 July 2023|date=22 May 2023}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist-lr}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|last=Hughes|first=Howard|year=2014|title=Outer Limits: The Filmgoers' Guide to the Great Science-Fiction Films|publisher=Bloomsbury USA|location=New York City, New York|isbn=978-0-857-72393-2}}
*{{cite book|last=Morgan|first=Chris|year=2015|title=The Comic Galaxy of Mystery Science Theater 3000: Twelve Classic Episodes and the Movies They Lampoon|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-1-476-61883-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Sipos|first=Thomas M.|year=2014|title=Horror Film Aesthetics: Creating the Visual Language of Fear|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-0-786-45834-9}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0086026|title=The Pod People}}
*{{cite web |url=http://es.geocities.com/jpiquers/nuevosextra.html |title=LOS NUEVOS EXTRATERRESTRES |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d.|language=Spanish |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027071826/http://es.geocities.com/jpiquers/nuevosextra.html  |archive-date=27 October 2009|url-status=dead}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woy7BOP6cdo Excerpt]

[[Category:1983 films]]
[[Category:1983 independent films]]
[[Category:1983 science fiction films]]
[[Category:E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]
[[Category:Films about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:Films directed by Juan Piquer Simon]]
[[Category:Foreign films set in the United States]]
[[Category:Films shot in Madrid]]
[[Category:French science fiction films]]
[[Category:Mockbuster films]]
[[Category:Spanish science fiction films]]
[[Category:1980s Spanish-language films]]
[[Category:Mystery Science Theater 3000]]