Invasion! (1999)

Synopsis: John Paizs, director of the beloved cult film THE BIG CRIMEWAVE (aka CRIME WAVE), returned from a 15 year hiatus from feature filmmaking to direct this spoof of 1950s sci-fi. Taking stock characters from 1950s B sci-fi films and mixing them with his own peculiar dry wit and surrealist... John Paizs, director of the beloved cult film THE BIG CRIMEWAVE (aka CRIME WAVE), returned from a 15 year hiatus from feature filmmaking to direct this spoof of 1950s sci-fi. Taking stock characters from 1950s B sci-fi films and mixing them with his own peculiar dry wit and surrealist stylings, Paizs has turned in a spoof that is every bit the equal to his earlier film. The film stars Campbell Scott as Dr. Karel Lamonte, an urbane pipe-smoking scientist vacationing in the sleepy town of Exceptional Vista, where some sort of alien menace appears to be cannibalizing the locals. In true B-movie fashion, the good doctor takes it upon himself to stamp out the menace, and enlists the help of the local beauty and her somewhat deranged brother. Sly and knowing, INVASION! is an excellent sci-fi parody with a distinctly unnatural spin that is bolstered immeasurably by Mr. Scott's superb turn as Dr. Lamonte. [More]