John Krish (1923–2016)

Fascinating Cold War paranoid SF thriller that is absolutely bursting with subtext around a fear of women. The screenplay by Rex Carlton sees prim scientist Mark Davidson (John Neville) working on a secret space programme. When he suddenly marries the beautiful and mysterious Julia (Gabriella Licudi) his superiors, particularly Major Clarke (Patrick Newell), become highly concerned about the security of Davidson's programme. When Davidson's colleague Professor Lancaster (Philip Stone) begins to notice some odd quirks in Julia he too becomes increasingly concerned. "Unearthly Stranger" is directed with a remarkably eerie touch by John Krish who gives the whole movie a tense paranoid edge. His use of odd angles and stark black and white photography is first class and ensures that the film is atmospheric, edgy and dramatic throughout. That all the aliens are women gives the film an added dimension. The way Davidson and Lancaster talk about Julie is both strange and fascinating. Even more chilling is the final sequence when the camera pans around the unblinking eyes of a small crowd of women, which leaves the suggestion that all women are unearthly strangers. All this is enhanced by a pitch-perfect cast - all the leading players are perfect delivering touching and tonal perfect performances. Overall "Unearthly Stranger" is a bit of a lost gem - it is tense, paranoid, suspenseful and intelligent and deserves a wider audience and much wider appreciation.… (mer)