I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958)

Movie Info

I really wish this was in the movie

Bill Farrell (Tom Tryon) encounters an alien on the eve of his marrieage to Marge Bradley (Gloria Talbott).  Overtaken by the alien, Bill is impersonated as Marge and Bill begin their married life.  Bill is part of a species of a dying species of alien who plots to infiltrate the Earth and uncover a way to impregnate human women.  As the aliens infiltrate the small city, Marge begins to suspect that there is something wrong with Bill and their friends husbands.  Marge finds herself trapped with no one to believe her…will anyone be able to stop the aliens?

Directed by Gene Fowler Jr., I Married a Monster from Outer Space is classic sci-fi horror.  The B-Movie with the ridiculous title has since been reviewed rather highly, but was ignored upon its release.

I’m an alien…and I believe in the sacred bonds of matrimony between an alien and his woman…

I Married a Monster from Outer Space is essentially Invasion of the Body Snatchers from a female perspective which makes it a rather interesting film.  A lot of parallels could be drawn between Marge’s feeling that her husband is alien and the marriage relationship which is new to her…especially in a time when women are supposed to be “chaste” (she actually says “I’ve never had a honeymoon before”…which implies a virgin background).  She finds herself believing her husband is a different person (once marriage is added).  It could be seen as a female paranoia or cautionary tale which is a bit different than the story presented in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

The movie is filled with classic sci-fi acting.  You have loaded stock characters who are very one dimensional…from devoted wives, to a promiscuous woman (who of course is killed), and great doctors, you pretty much have every character you’d expect in a film like this.  Tom Tyron and Gloria Talbott are nice as the alien husband and his distraught wife who knows something isn’t right.

Oh no! My alien husband is dead…and he’s turned to poop!

Visually, you don’t get a great look at the aliens.  There are plenty publicity still which allow you to really see the monsters.  They are quite cheesy and have a bit of a squid look to them.  Apparently, they should have designed their space suits better because dogs can easily jump up and pull the oxygen tubes from their suits…maybe they should have thought about that before they invaded.

I Married a Monster from Outer Space is fun, short, and to the point.  You can debate whether this type of movie is horror or not (I tend to believe not…but it does have a monster…so…).  Regardless, the movie is worth seeking out for fans of ’50s sci-fi.