THIS ISLAND EARTH
Full Metaluna Panic!
RELEASED OUT NOW! 1955 | PG | Blu-ray Director Joseph M Newman Cast Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller
BLU-RAY DEBUT This colourful atom-age space opera is one of those movies that’s more compelling when it plays in your memory than it is on a screen. Based on a fix-up novel by Raymond F Jones, it sees dashing scientist Cal Meacham (Rex Reason – which should be a character name in itself ) recruited by Tefal-headed aliens, then journeying to their home planet, which is on the brink of being destroyed in an intergalactic war.
The mystery of the opening stretches is effective, as Cal follows anonymously provided instructions to assemble alien device the interocitor, but it takes far too long to reach the pay-off: the trip to Metaluna.
Once it arrives, we’re treated to a groovy flying saucer interior, some gorgeous matte paintings and an iconic monster: the big-brained, claw-handed Metaluna Mutant. But while
This Island Earth has a fistful of memorable moments, the plot doesn’t add up to much, and the human characters are terribly two-dimensional.
Extras “Two And A Half Years In The Making” (48 minutes), a first-rate Making Of, uses talking heads from various film historians to comprehensively detail every stage of production. Italian director/fan Luigi Cozzi provides a rambling appreciation, a touch heavy on synopsis (21 minutes). There’s a solid commentary by effects guy Robert Skotak (Aliens, Terminator 2); unsurprisingly this has a bias towards discussing the effects. The second audio track isn’t really a commentary, but a 28-minute lecture on the score; a video essay might have worked better. Plus: Joe Dante discussing the film for YouTube series “Trailers From Hell”; trailer; gallery. Ian Berriman
Several sets were recycled. For example, the Earth office of the alien Exeter came from The Benny Goodman Story.
It takes far too long to reach the pay-off