Night Slaves

I saw this movie again very recently for the first time in many years. It is not generally available for purchase. Anyone wishing to see it will have to search far and wide to locate a used copy, most likely recorded from television. The movie is little known and was probably never marketed for purchase.

The movie itself is unremarkable, in terms of its story and presentation. In both story and presentation, "Night Slaves" is similar to other films of the science fiction/paranormal genre that marked this period. Films such as "The People" and "The Stranger Within" are siblings of "Night Slaves," stylistically speaking. All three films have the added distinction of being "made for TV" adaptations. "Night Slaves" is directed in a style that reminds me of sci-fi thrillers of the 1950s. Watching this movie, I am especially reminded of the classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." In keeping with the boundaries imposed by television, the direction of "Night Slaves" is characteristically low-key. Consequently, "Night Slaves" story and style never made and never will make an impact on the viewer.

"Night Slaves" impact on the viewer is primarily in terms of nostalgia. It was first seen by many viewers in their childhood or young adulthood and may very well transport them back to a time many of them remember fondly. A time when, in addition to the ordinary pleasures of childhood, talk of UFOs and aliens from outer space generated a sense of expectancy and adventure not only in the children but in the adults in the family as well.

"Night Slaves" might also be worth viewing if you are a fan of one of the actors. Actors such as the underrated James Franciscus, the stalwart Lee Grant, and the lovely Tisha Sterling are here for viewers' entertainment.

"Night Slaves" is not a movie to shout praise about, but it will evoke often pleasant memories--even if they are corny--of an earlier era of life, when UFOs and beings from outer space caused quite a stir.

At first glance, this looks like a typical, dreary TV movie. The production could be more extravagant, but the story is good. Given a chance, it turns into a "love against all the odds", interplanetary love story. The search for love is shown to be universal. When the aliens (creatures of mind) must inhabit human bodies to repair their ship, two "souls" (one human, one alien) in search of something more, find each other. They find, in each other, what we all desire and sometimes never achieve. Will they have each other? Will they escape? Will love conquer? I ended up caring...

A LOT !!!

James Franciscus (Clay) gets a metal plate in his head after a car crash and takes a road trip vacation with his wife Lee Grant (Marjorie). They come across a sleepy town – literally. There are strange night-time goings-on that Franciscus observes and everyone seems to be affected except him. The whole town seems to go off somewhere every night and it is unstoppable. He tries. At the same time, a mystery woman Tisha Sterling (Nailil/Annie) appears to him and they fall in love. Who is she and can their love transcend whatever is going on?

This is an enjoyable short film that zips along and has you questioning what will happen. You may well guess various elements of the story but it doesn't matter as it is an interesting story and everyone ends up with who they should. Leslie Nielsen also stars as the Sheriff of the town. Somehow, it stays with you after it has finished.

Clay and Marjorie Howard (James Franciscus and Lee Grant) stop in a small town to stay at a hotel. When night falls, Clay observes the townsfolk, as well as Marjorie, acting very oddly. The next day, he believes he just had a bad dream. However, he soon discovers that something is really going on, but it defies imagination.

NIGHT SLAVES is a made-for-TV sci-fi movie with a nice mystery to solve. It's sort of an updated version of IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, with Franciscus in the sleuthing everyman role. There's a conspiratorial atmosphere up until the truth is revealed.

A mostly forgotten film that deserves to be re-discovered...

After a fatal car accident that leaves two people dead, the driver of the other car named "Clay Howard" (James Franciscus) manages to survive due to surgery which results in a metal plate being inserted into his head. Needing recuperation afterward he and his wife "Marjorie" (Lee Grant) drive off and eventually decide to stay for the night in a small town along the way. That night Clay wakes up and finds everybody in the town walking in a trance and being driven out of town in a couple of trucks-including Marjorie. Sitting in his bedroom is an attractive woman named "Naillil" (Tisha Sterling) who seems amused by his puzzlement. Anyway, rather than detailing any more of the movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a rather fun made-for-television film. I thought James Franciscus put on a decent performance while both Lee Grant and Tisha Sterling certainly added some scenery as well. All in all I rate it as slightly above average.