The Brain Eaters
The Brain Eaters
NR | 01 September 1958 (USA)
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A huge, alien structure resembling an inverted cone, appears in the woods outside a small rural town. Sent from Washington to investigate the origin of the mysterious object, a team of investigators discovers that intelligent parasites from inside the "cone" can attach themselves to humans' nervous systems and control their minds, taking control of the authorities and workers, making communication with the outside world impossible, and leaving the responsibility of stopping the invasion up to seven people who have thus far been able to avoid possession by these creatures from parts unknown.

Reviews
LastingAware The greatest movie ever!
WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.
CommentsXp Best movie ever!
Staci Frederick Blistering performances.
BA_Harrison A mysterious 50ft metal cone is found sticking out of the ground. As scientists try to figure out precisely what it is, small parasitic creatures emerge and attach themselves to various people, controlling the host but slowly destroying the brain in the process.If there's one thing that most fifties sci-fi/horror movies did right, it was the promotion, the films boasting sensational titles and wonderfully lurid posters to lure in the punters: 'The Brain Eaters' is an amazing title, while the incredible poster promises 'crawling, slimy things terror-bent on destroying the world'. Who wouldn't want to see that?Of course, with many of these films made on a shoestring budget, they rarely lived up to the promise, and that is most definitely the case here: yes, there are crawling (and possibly slimy) creatures, but the shonky, bug-like critters are more likely to evoke laughter than terror. Perhaps if there was a decent story to be told, I could be more a little more forgiving of the 'monsters', but The Brain Eaters doesn't have that either. The plot is a mess of cliches (the one and only original idea being that the bugs come from inside the earth as opposed to outer space), and the acting is perfunctory (future Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy wisely hides behind a big, fake beard).2/10
JPfanatic93 Terrible low budget science fiction/horror flick about alien parasites invading a small American town and taking over people's minds. A small band of brave uninfected individuals tries to stop their hostile take-over. Lousy story, boring execution and mostly non-existent visuals, courtesy of schlock production studio American International Pictures (AIP), specializing in only the cheapest of horror and science fiction flicks to provide drive-in theaters with content to show to teenagers who aren't watching anyway because they're engaged in other activities. Noted science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein sued the producers (including Roger Corman, an expert in producing this type of quick, cheesy, cheap cinema of the late fifties) for stealing the plot of his book 'The Puppet Masters'. Otherwise this movie is only noteworthy for featuring Leonard Nimoy (of Star Trek fame, obviously) in one of his earliest roles, playing the host to the Brain Eater Overlord: unfortunately his last name was misspelled as 'Nemoy'.
ASouthernHorrorFan A team of local scientists discover alien parasites when they investigate a mysterious, three-story-tall, cone-like object that has appeared outside of town. It becomes obvious that the parasites' first victims, who's minds have been taken over, are the town's leading citizens. "The Brain Eaters" released in 1958 is a classic science fiction story than blends both the other worldly with the creature feature concept that explodes later in Hollywood b-movies. The film stars Edwin Nelson, Alan Frost, and Jack Hill. Written by Gordon Urquhart and directed by Bruno Vestor the film is a cookie cutter format that spawned in the 1950's bringing much of the science fiction short stories to life on the drive in and theater screens across America."The Brain Eaters" story has been reinterpreted many times over the years. Most notably "Puppet Masters" and "The Faculty". The story is as eerie and classic as "Body Snatchers" and one of the best sci-fi premises to break through the 1950's craze for everything extraterrestrial. I am pretty sure that in this film the parasite invasion which is soon found to be from our own prehistoric beginnings is actually a metaphor for communism fears that ravaged the middle of the 20th century. I don't normally get that deep into a films meaning because for me it takes a lot from the shear enjoyment of the story."The Brain Eaters" is cut and dry in its concept, showing a clear path to the end by exposing the enemy right from the beginning, leaving no real room for suspense or drama. The story moves more like propaganda than fiction thriller. The dialogue is your basic 50's arrogance of American triumphant over any and all threats. However simply from a nostalgic approach to appreciating all that came before "The Brain Eaters" is one of the best examples of Man's fears of the unknown and the growing threat of the new fields of scientific studies. "If we explore to much into our world would we somehow destroy ourselves?" This is still the burning question today, and "The Brain Eaters" is one of the first time we see those questions explored in science fiction writings spawn a b-movie craze that has spanned the decades since.
Tom van der Esch What is there to say about this movie? Not an awful lot really. It's a standard (almost cliché) black-and-white movie about parasites latching onto the necks of people, controlling them and eventually making them die.The acting is mediocre, the story develops slowly and the effects are ... well, 'okay' for it's time. If you are a fan of movies from this age, then go ahead and watch it. It's only an hour long though.One thing I should mention is Leonard Nimoy (you know, Mr. Spock?). Barely recognizable, but he is indeed in this movie.I give this movie 6 out of 10 stars, since it has all the charms of a movie of it's age. Enjoyable for the fans, but not really outstanding.