Xtro is a 1983 British science fiction horror film directed by Harry Bromley Davenport and starring Philip Sayer, Bernice Stegers, and Danny Brainin. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. in the United States and by EMI Films in the United Kingdom.
The plot revolves around an alien creature that impregnates a woman, and the resulting child who has strange powers. The film was poorly received by critics, and was a box office bomb. However, it has since gained a cult following.
Xtro is a campy, low-budget science fiction horror flick that is entertaining despite its many flaws. The acting is wooden, the special effects are cheap, and the plot is full of holes. However, the film is saved by its sense of fun and humor. It’s clear that the filmmakers were not taking themselves too seriously, and that sense of fun is infectious.
The plot of Xtro is ridiculous, but that’s part of the charm. An alien creature impregnates a woman, and the resulting child has strange powers. The film follows the child, Tony, as he grows up and tries to understand his powers.
The acting is not great, but it’s not terrible either. Philip Sayer does a decent job as Tony, and Bernice Stegers is good as his mother. Danny Brainin is also decent as Tony’s father. The real star of the film is the creature, which is played by an uncredited actor in a rubber suit.
The creature effects are cheap, but they’re effective. The creature itself is well-designed, and the transformation scenes are handled well. The film’s limited budget is evident in the cheapness of the sets and locations, but they’re not distractingly bad.
Xtro is not a great film, but it’s an entertaining one. It’s campy and cheesy, but it’s also fun and funny. If you’re a fan of low-budget science fiction horror, then you’ll enjoy Xtro.
Synopsis
The film opens with a family of three, Tony, Rachel, and their young son, Sam, playing in a park. They are then abducted by aliens and taken to an unknown planet. Tony is experimented on and his body is transformed into an alien creature. He is then sent back to Earth, where he crash-lands in a remote forest.
Tony is found by a group of hunters, who mistake him for a wild animal and shoot at him. He manages to escape and makes his way to a small rural town. There he comes across a group of teenagers who are hanging out at a local carnival. He befriends one of the girls, Sarah, and starts to integrate himself into the group.
Tony starts to experience strange flashbacks of his time on the alien planet. He also starts to exhibit strange abilities, such as the ability to teleport and to generate fire. The other teenagers start to become scared of him and Sarah begins to distance herself.
Tony starts to believe that the aliens are coming for him and that he needs to find Sam. He sets out into the forest, where he finds a strange glowing object. He touches it and is teleported back to the alien planet.
He is reunited with Rachel and Sam, who have also been transformed into aliens. They tell him that they have been waiting for him and that they need his help to stop the aliens from taking over Earth.
Tony agrees to help and is teleported back to Earth. He starts to use his powers to fight the aliens, who are now attacking the town. He eventually defeats them and is reunited with Sarah.
Movie Details
Director: Harry Bromley Davenport
Writers: Harry Bromley Davenport, Iain Cassie, Michael Parry, Robert Smith
Actors: Phillip Sayer, Bernice Stegers, Danny Brainin, Simon Nash
AKA: Judas Goat
Release Year: 1983