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The Alien Factor

  • 1978
  • G
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
3.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
The Alien Factor (1978)
A spaceship containing specimens for an intergalactic zoo crashes on Earth near a small back woods town. The specimens escape, and soon town folk are turning up mutilated. Very low budget feature was the first for Baltimore filmmaker Don Dohler.
Play trailer1:46
1 Video
99+ Photos
Alien InvasionHorrorSci-Fi

A science ship with three dangerous specimens collected from around the universe crash lands on Earth. A mysterious stranger named "Ben Zachary" shows up claiming to be able to save the day.... Read allA science ship with three dangerous specimens collected from around the universe crash lands on Earth. A mysterious stranger named "Ben Zachary" shows up claiming to be able to save the day. Can he do what he claims?A science ship with three dangerous specimens collected from around the universe crash lands on Earth. A mysterious stranger named "Ben Zachary" shows up claiming to be able to save the day. Can he do what he claims?

  • Director
    • Don Dohler
  • Writer
    • Don Dohler
  • Stars
    • Don Leifert
    • Tom Griffith
    • Richard Dyszel
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    3.8/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Don Dohler
    • Writer
      • Don Dohler
    • Stars
      • Don Leifert
      • Tom Griffith
      • Richard Dyszel
    • 56User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:46
    Trailer

    Photos103

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 99
    View Poster

    Top cast34

    Edit
    Don Leifert
    Don Leifert
    • Ben Zachary
    Tom Griffith
    • Sheriff Cinder
    Richard Dyszel
    Richard Dyszel
    • Mayor Wicker
    Mary Mertens
    • Edie Martin
    Richard Geiwitz
    Richard Geiwitz
    • Pete
    George Stover
    George Stover
    • Steven
    Eleanor Herman
    • Mary Jane Carter
    Anne Frith
    • Dr. Ruth Sherman
    Christopher Gummer
    • Clay
    Don Dohler
    • Ernie
    Dave Ellis
    • Richie
    Dave Geatty
    • Man in Bar
    Margie Van Tassell
    • Susan
    Tony Malanowski
    • Ed Miller
    Debbie Pietron
    • Couple in Woods
    William Cosentino
    • Couple in Woods
    • (as Bill Cosentino)
    Rick Cosentino
    • Biker
    Greg Dohler
    • Three Children
    • Director
      • Don Dohler
    • Writer
      • Don Dohler
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews56

    3.81.4K
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    Featured reviews

    7Demilich

    A quirky little film.

    I saw this film as a kid on the Saturday afternoon "Monster Theater". I've seen it a few more times since then, and I still get a kick out of it.

    Basically, an alien ship crashes (of course) on its way to some intergalactic zoo. Three very dangerous aliens escape the wreck and go back to their normal predatory behavior patterns. It's up to the Earthlings to stop them...

    This film was pretty creative for its time, and the methods used to "deal" with the aliens showed some logical and innovative thought on the writer's part.

    It probably will never be listed in the top ten films of all time, but it's a fun romp when you're in the mood for cheesy movies. Give it a chance.
    DrGrogg

    Weird but fun.

    Of all the crappy sci-fi movies I've picked up and rented, this one stuck a little longer than the rest. It's pretty good for being a low budget film whose cast and crew were one and the same. It's pretty original, too. Kind of weird but it's worth a look.
    forum-1

    One of the best Z films I've ever seen.

    I know this movie well since I am Sheriff Cinder. Some of the negative comments I've seen used to really get to me. But that was when I was a lot closer to the project. After all, that was almost 25 years ago. I find them quite accurate and funny now. It is a fun film to watch with a bunch of friends (if you're into this genre). Believe it or not, I can't get my hands on any good copy of this movie. By the way, I just ran across some of the original paste-up boards, for Cinemagic Magazine, that Don Dohler (director) and I use to publish before and during the time we made The Alien Factor. What a kick it was to look over that stuff. If you haven't seen this film, get your hands on it and let IMDb know what you think!
    kennywest1

    Don Dohler's genius grade-Z sci-fi on DVD

    Don Dohler, the unsung hero of home-grown sci-fi, has finally come to DVD. The Alien Factor is a complete cheeseball that has a decent storyline and hypnotic music to enjoy while laughing at impossibly cheap alien costumes. If I were Don, I'd want to sue Steven Spielburg for ripping off his idea of marooned aliens. The whole show is fun, the alien make-up is actually scary. Unlike the following John Waters attained from his home-grown Baltimore movies, Don Dohler's overlooked home-grown Baltimore movies will be considered cult classics someday thanks to these fantastic revival DVDs.
    ygor-2

    I helped make it !!

    I'm the "Dan White" in the credits as "Vance". It was a walk-on, one-line, bit part. Me and "Ted" found one of the bodies and drove it up to "Doc Ruth's" place. The two-tone blue car was mine. Doc Ruth's place was the farmhouse on a horse farm where my sister then boarded her horses. It was a blast to help make the film. I wish it had not turned out as campy as it did. It was not meant to. But it did make it onto Movie Macabre (Elvira's show) and I did get a big smile from her when I met her at an Auto Show in DC and asked if she remembered the film. She said that she did.

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    Related interests

    Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men in Black (1997)
    Alien Invasion
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sheriff's office was actually a set built in the basement of Don Dohler's house.
    • Goofs
      When the sheriff is driving along a dirt road after the initial killing, the edge of the car window carrying the camera is visible 2 or 3 times during the side-by-side shots.
    • Quotes

      Ben Zachary: So when I knelt over the creature, my mind went momentarily blank, and then I was aware of a bright blue light, then thoughts began to enter my mind...

    • Connections
      Featured in Blood, Boobs & Beast (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Maybe Someday
      Written by Lon Talbot

      Performed by Atlantis

      © 1976 Mekon Records

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 12, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Alien Factor
    • Filming locations
      • Perry Hall, Maryland, USA
    • Production company
      • Cinemagic Visual Effects
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 20m(80 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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