Alienator
1989 film by Fred Olen Ray
title: "Alienator" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990-films", "1990-action-thriller-films", "1990-independent-films", "1990-science-fiction-action-films", "american-independent-films", "american-science-fiction-action-films", "american-action-thriller-films", "films-about-androids", "films-directed-by-fred-olen-ray", "1990s-english-language-films", "1990-american-films", "1990-science-fiction-films", "english-language-independent-films", "english-language-science-fiction-action-films", "english-language-action-thriller-films"] description: "1989 film by Fred Olen Ray" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alienator" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1989 film by Fred Olen Ray ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Alienator |
| image | Alienator-vhs-movie-cover-md.jpg |
| caption | Home media cover |
| director | Fred Olen Ray |
| producer | Jeffrey C. Hogue |
| writer | Paul Garson |
| starring | {{plainlist |
| music | Chuck Cirino |
| cinematography | Gary Graver |
| editing | Chris Roth |
| studio | {{plainlist |
| distributor | Prism Entertainment |
| released | |
| runtime | 92 minutes |
| country | United States |
| language | English |
| :: |
| name = Alienator | image = Alienator-vhs-movie-cover-md.jpg | alt = | caption = Home media cover | director = Fred Olen Ray | producer = Jeffrey C. Hogue | writer = Paul Garson | starring = {{plainlist|* Jan-Michael Vincent
- John Phillip Law
- Ross Hagen
- Dyana Ortelli
- Teagan
- P. J. Soles}} | music = Chuck Cirino | cinematography = Gary Graver | editing = Chris Roth | studio = {{plainlist|* American-Independent Prods.
- Majestic Intl. }} | distributor = Prism Entertainment | released = | runtime = 92 minutes | country = United States | language = English
Alienator is a 1990 science fiction film directed by Fred Olen Ray, produced by Jeffrey C. Hogue, and starring Jan-Michael Vincent.
The film was described by Leonard Maltin and confirmed by Fred Olen Ray to be a "semi-remake" of the 1957 film The Astounding She-Monster. Robert Clarke, who starred in that film, also appears in Alienator.
Plot
Kol, an alien criminal, escapes from a spaceship into the woods of an American suburb. The commander of the spaceship dispatches "the Alienator"—a deadly gynoid, to capture Kol. She relentlessly pursues Kol and a group of teenagers who find him without knowing his past.
Cast
- Jan-Michael Vincent as Commander
- John Phillip Law as Ward Armstrong
- Ross Hagen as Kol
- Teagan Clive as Alienator
- Dyana Ortelli as Orrie
- Jesse Dabson as Benny
- Dawn Wildsmith as Caroline
- P.J. Soles as Tara
- Robert Clarke as Lund
- Richard Wiley as Rick
- Leo Gordon as Colonel Coburn
- Robert Quarry as "Doc" Burnside
- Fox Harris as Burt
- Hoke Howell as Harley
- Jay Richardson as Prison Sergeant Major
- Dan Golden as Electrocuted Prisoner
- Joseph Pilato as Tech #2
Release
Alienator was originally set for release between May and August in 1989. Prism Entertainment announced in November 1989 to release the film along with Time Troopers in late December. Prism later released the film on February 8, 1990.
On March 19, 2013, the film was released on DVD by Shout! Factory as part of a two-disc "Action-Packed Movie Marathon" set, which contains a total of four films. On June 13, 2017, the film was released on Blu-ray by Scream Factory, featuring a commentary track by director Fred Olen Ray.
Reception
From contemporary reviews, "Lor." of Variety reviewed the AIP video cassette on November 18, 1989. "Lor." declared the film to be a "tongue-in cheek sci-fi thriller geared towards home video fans with a soft spot for the old stars and old-fashioned serials." "Lor." noted the film "suffers from a weak script" that gave Jan-Michael Vincent and John Phillip Law little to do while P.J. Soles is "stuck in a rather goofy costume as an outer space technician".
References
Sources
References
- Maltin, Leonard. (2015). "Turner Classic Movies Presents Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965". [[Plume (publisher).
- Weldon, Michael J.. (1996). "The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film". [[St. Martin's Griffin]].
- (January 15, 1989). "Mid-May through August". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
- (November 21, 1989). "When TV Mattered". [[New York Daily News]].
- (January 19, 1990). "Coming Attractions". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
- Blowen, Michael. (January 26, 1990). "Advertising Comes to the Movies". [[The Boston Globe]].
- "Action Packed Movie Marathon (Cyclone, Alienator, Eye Of The Tiger & Exterminator 2)".
- "Alienator [Blu-ray]".
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