Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Richard Dreyfuss | ... | ||
François Truffaut | ... |
Claude Lacombe
(as Francois Truffaut)
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Teri Garr | ... | ||
Melinda Dillon | ... | ||
Bob Balaban | ... | ||
J. Patrick McNamara | ... | ||
Warren J. Kemmerling | ... |
Wild Bill
(as Warren Kemmerling)
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Roberts Blossom | ... | ||
Philip Dodds | ... | ||
Cary Guffey | ... | ||
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Shawn Bishop | ... | |
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Adrienne Campbell | ... |
Silvia Neary
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Justin Dreyfuss | ... | |
Lance Henriksen | ... |
Robert
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Merrill Connally | ... |
Two parallel stories are told. In the first, a group of research scientists from a variety of backgrounds are investigating the strange appearance of items in remote locations, primarily desert regions. In continuing their investigation, one of the lead scientists, a Frenchman named Claude Lacombe, incorporates the Kodály method of music education as a means of communication in their work. The response, in turn, at first baffles the researchers, until American cartographer David Laughlin deciphers the meaning of the response. In the second, electric company lineman and family man Roy Neary and single mother Jillian Guiler are among some individuals in Muncie, Indiana who experience some paranormal activity before some flashes of bright lights in the sky, which they believe to be a UFO. Roy becomes obsessed with what he saw, unlike some others, especially in some form of authority, who refuse to acknowledge their belief that it was a UFO in not wanting to appear crazy. That obsession ... Written by Huggo
Space aliens invade Indiana and kidnap a three-year-old! It is not clear why the power goes out and household appliances go berserk when the aliens approach. It's also not explained why those who have seen the alien ship suddenly become obsessed with a mountain they have never seen. In fact, there is no rhyme or reason to anything that goes on in this unbelievably stupid film. Spielberg has made a few turkeys in his career but this is surely his worst. His script is totally nonsensical and becomes increasingly tedious before reaching an utterly ridiculous ending. It turns out the space aliens are star babies from Kubrick's "2001," except that they have now become creepy toddlers.