Re-Review: Xtro (1982)

 I haven't talked about this Film since my first Review back in 2009.  I think I can do better than that Review.  Suck it, younger me!

*******

For those of you who thought that everything British was classy, I present Xtro.  This 1982 gem of an oddity wasn't *officially* on the Video Nasty List (it passed certification), but it sure was on their radar.  Harry Bramley-Davenport- the most British name that isn't Sir Reginald Teatime- was early in his career and shot for the Moon with this one.  He was the Director, one of the Writers AND he did the Soundtrack.  Hell, he probably made the Chip Butties and Blood Sausages in Catering!  And yes, I did Google that Sandwich and yes, it does sound good.  The Plot involves a Dad that goes missing, seemingly-abducted by Aliens.  Years later, he returns...or does he?  Whatever he is, the Dad is going to make things get really freaky in his new, old household.  The Film has some very crazy moments and a bit of an identity issue.  The insanity is so glorious that you can't help but keep watching though!  Let's see if I feel much different than 2009 me as I re-review this one...

A Dad and Son are playing in the Yard when...suddenly it is night time and some sort of not-on-camera ship takes the Dad away.

This is a dream, which I guess is supposed to explain why the kid looks the same 3 years earlier that he does now AND how it went from day to night so quickly.

While the kid has dreams that end in him being covered in blood (not his, but still!), a freaky creature returns and attacks a woman.

In a memorable bit, a full-grown Dad suddenly is 'birthed' by the woman!  Oh, now I see how this almost made the List.

'Dad' returns and meets the Son.  The Mother is surprised as hell to see him, even though she never bought the 'abducted by Aliens' story.

The fact that she cares about him and his apparent amnesia makes her want to help him.

'Dad' has some new, bad habits like eating the eggs laid by his Son's pet snake.

He chases down the freaked-out kid and...um...sucks on his neck until something grows on his shoulder.
This Film makes me need an Adult...and I am one!

'Dad' shows that he can do strange things with his mind like affect lights and other objects.
The Son is inspired to do the same, only his imagination is far less-limited.

He turns his scary Clown Doll into a scary Clown person and his Toy Soldier into...well, a bigger Toy Soldier.

Where said Soldier got C-4 is anyone's guess though!

One thing I didn't touch upon yet is how this Family with a young Son in a tiny Apartment both needs AND has a Nanny.

Well, she's not going to be around much longer, as the Son lures her away from her not-so-secret lover and has help knocking her out.

...he also apparently implants her with Eggs like the 'Dad' did earlier.  She's webbed up and now she will be used to...

Oh, what's that?  You cut the Ending explaining why the Eggs mattered?  Never mind.

In the end, everyone alive (sorry, boyfriend) ends up at the Cabin where it all happened 3 years ago.

'Dad' and 'Son' mutate into full Aliens and leave a possibly-dead New Husband (it's not clear) behind with the Mother.

...who finds an egg in the NEW Ending and gets killed via face-hugger.  The End.

A properly-strange and freaky Film.  Xtro has a way of just being 'off' that was apparently a bit of an accident.  He definitely meant for it to be weird- no question.  After all, you have bloody death, a tiny Clown, a Toy Soldier, a random Panther and death by floating disco ball (more on that later).  Oh yeah, and the little matter of the full-grown man being born from an unwilling woman too!  There's not a whole lot of Plot here.  Once the strange stuff with the kid using his new powers comes into play, that mostly takes over.  We do get an interesting and pretty-satisfying ending- the first time, that is.  You can read about it, but there was some dispute with Producers about how to end the Film.  It was meant to end with the reveal that the Eggs would hatch new copies of 'Dad' as part of the Aliens' plan.  That was scrapped for, well, no good reason I could find for the ending we got.  It's still a more logical ending than Xtro II's abrupt twist- see the next Re-Review for that.  If you can wait for the real crazy stuff, Xtro delivers old-school splatter, crazy visuals and an odd Story.  I'll leave you with a visual for how you all look when you get up in the middle of the night for a snack...

Next time, I keep the Re-Reviews coming as I look at the Sequel that wasn't.  When the Director all but disowns you, it can't be good.