Strange things are happening in Riverdale, Illinois. A huge, seemingly alien structure has been found jutting out of the earth. Sent to investigate the origin of the mysterious object, Senator Walter Powers (Jack Hill) and scientist Dr Paul Kettering (Edwin Nelson) discover that parasites from the centre of the earth that fasten themselves to the neck and control the brains of their victims, have infiltrated the town, taking control of the authorities and workers and making communication with the outside world impossible. The responsibility of stopping the invasion is left up to Powers, Kettering and a group of free individuals!

viewer's comments:

- This is a classic Saturday Matinee movie; short, icky monsters, black & white, and 50's paranoia. It's about a good an adaptation (for the time period) that Heinlein could expect and still make the transition from book to screen. Yes, the FX look lame compared to today's cgi and bluescreen. Yes, the story is pure 50's. Still, it is watchable, even enjoyable if viewers simply accept it for what it is . . . a low-budget, backlot SF film.


- Much Better Than Rated

A strange seemingly destructible cone-shaped object is found in the town of Riverdale, Illinois. This comes following reports of strange lights in the sky, mysterious deaths and disappearances. Senator Walter K. Powers is sent to investigate and meets the town's scientific research team of Dr. Kettering & Dr. Wyler. Eventually they stumble upon the horrible and unlikely truth of what is the cause behind all of this. This film starts out a bit slow and is hampered by a low-budget but it is however a superb attempt to rise above the limitations of budget in order to tell a fascinating story. Scenes shot through the eyes of the Brain Eaters and featuring the Brain Eaters themselves are surprisingly well done. Really I feel this film is actually quite good.


- Whilst its no 'Ben Hur' I can think of worse ways of wasting away an hour.

One of B-movie legend Bruno VeSota's three directorial efforts, 'The Brain Eaters' shows enough promise to make one wish he had split his time more evenly between acting and directing.

We are once again in the realms of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' and 'I Married a Monster from Outer Space' with aliens trying to take over the population of an isolated American town. The spaceship turns out to have burrowed up from beneath the earth's surface, letting loose vindictive slug-like creatures which attach themselves to peoples necks, taking over their minds. Lots of Communist paranoia/infiltration undertones as usual.

The plot manages to lose itself despite a running time of only 60 minutes, but at least 'The Brain Eaters' recognises its limitations. The film prevents the normal ridicule caused by feeble special-effects by not having any and within the boundaries it sets itself, there is nothing to offend.

Like most releases from American International Pictures the film is primed for entertainment value, if not artistic merit, and it is none the worse for that.

I remember a particularly good scene where the camera follows one of the malevolent slugs point-of-view as it stalks its victim ready to latch onto that neck !! Maybe this influenced Spielberg in 'Jaws' ??





Directed by
Bruno VeSota

Writing credits
Gordon Urquhart

Complete credited cast:
Ed Nelson (I) .... Dr. Paul Kettering (as Edwin Nelson)
Alan Frost (I) .... Glenn Cameron
Cornelius Keefe .... Senator Walter K. Powers (as Jack Hill)
Joanna Lee (I) .... Alice Summers
Jody Fair .... Elaine Cameron
David Hughes (VII) .... Dr. Wyler
Robert Ball (I) .... Dan Walker
Greigh Phillips .... Sheriff
Orville Sherman .... Mayor Cameron
Leonard Nimoy .... Professor Cole (as Leonard Nemoy)
Doug Banks .... Doctor
Henry Randolph .... Telegrapher
Saul Bronson .... Prof. Helsingman


Also Known As:
Brain Snatchers, The (1958)
Keepers of the Earth (1958)
Keepers, The (1958)
Runtime: 60 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Black and White