It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958)

It!  The Terror from Beyond Space
Directed by Edward L. Cahn
Written by Jerome Bixby
1958/USA
Robert E. Kent Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Col. Van Heusen: There’s only one kind of a monster that uses bullets.[/box]

This solid B horror/sci-fi flick was reportedly an inspiration for Alien.

A space ship is sent to collect Col. Edward Caruthers (Marshall Thomson), the only survivor of a nine-man mission to Mars.  When the new crew finds him, it seems obvious that he should be returned for court martial for murdering his men.  But the real culprit joins them on the journey …

The monster is clearly a man in a rubber suit but is nonetheless scary and unstoppable.     The action moves along at a good clip and the obligatory romance with the nurse keeps the movie suitably cheesy.  Recommended to fans of the genre.  The complete film is currently available on YouTube.

Trailer