Starship Invasions is a 1977 Canadian science fiction film with a horrific sub-theme written, produced and directed by Ed Hunt (Bloody Birthday; The Brain). It was re-released in the United Kingdom as Project Genocide. It stars Christopher Lee and Robert Vaughn (Teenage Caveman). The film’s notable score is by Gil Melle.
Plot teaser:
The black-clad Legion of the Winged Serpent, is a rogue group of human-like telepathic aliens led by Captain Rameses (Christopher Lee). The Legion’s home planet Alpha in the Orion constellation is about to be destroyed in the imminent supernova of its star, and Rameses is leading a small force of flying saucers to Earth to examine its suitability for their race. Performing several alien abductions, they discover they are descendants of transplanted humans and that the planet is perfect for them. They plan to make way for themselves after killing everyone through the use of a device whose signals prompt people to commit suicide…
Reviews:
“Although it is relatively painless to watch, Starship Invasions takes itself a little to seriously to really be successful. It’s obvious that Hunt is fascinated with UFOlogy, having made no less than three films which delve into the subject. Unfortunately, his attempt to marry the more “scientific” UFO lore found in dusty library books to “space opera” concepts such as underwater pyramids and Durbal, the ill-conceived robot, was doomed to fail from the beginning.” Canuxploitation!
“Star Wars used up all of the special effects, Christopher Lee doesn’t get to move his mouth at any point during the film, and we’re pretty sure the million dollars mostly went toward the staggering quantities of meth Ed Hunt et al must have consumed to make this movie.” Something Awful
“This film is chock full of 1960s and 1970s cliches that Star Wars more or less abolished, including the UFO abduction thing, space battle sequences that look cheesy rather than cool, and aliens saying things like “oh yeah, we built the pyramids,” and “You humans use only 1 percent of your brains.” Sigh.” i09
“Half the time it’s silly and laughable like those Italian Star Odyssey knock-offs. But the rest of this Canadian made picture is eerie and strange, an apparent attempt to take UFOs seriously. As I write this in 2010, many viewers posting on YouTube or the IMBd recall being frightened by it children. Distorted sound effects and blatant suicide sequences can still unnerve adults 30+ years after initial release.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers
Cast:
- Robert Vaughn as Professor Allan Duncan
- Christopher Lee as Captain Rameses
- Daniel Pilon as Anaxi
- Tiiu Leek as Phi
- Helen Shaver as Betty Duncan
- Henry Ramer as Malcolm
- Victoria Johnson as Gazeth
- Doreen Lipson as Dorothy
- Kate Parr as Diane Duncan
- Sherri Ross as Sagnac
- Linda Rennhofer as Joan
- Richard Fitzpatrick as Joe
- Ted Turner as Zhender
- Sean McCann as Carl
- Bob Warner as an Air Force General
Filming locations:
Toronto, Ontario.
