PUPPET MASTERS (1994)
Directed by Stuart Orme
Starring Donald Sutherland and Eric Thal
This kick-ass alien invasion movie obviously inspired by the 1956 classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" should appeal to fans of the "X-Files" and schlock-lovers alike.
Sutherland heads up an "X-Files"-like, secret government agency to protect the U.S. from alien invaders. They stumble upon an actual invasion after a UFO is sited in a small town. Arriving at the scene, they see children charging people for a look inside an obviously fake spaceship.
Naturally, the kids have all been assimilated by the aliens, which look like flying sting rays. They attach themselves to the back of a victim and take over his or her nervous system (hence the title "Puppet Masters").
The film is mostly just an incredible sci-fi action movie, the best of its kind since "The Hidden." Fans o the original Robert A. Heinlein novel upon which it was based apparently don't like this pic, but then bookworms never were into gunplay, militarism and macho posturing. All in all, "Puppet Masters" is a fantastic mainstream monster movie.
Andy Robinson of "Dirty Harry" and "Hellraiser" fame has a small role as a secret service agent and Yaphet Kotto looks lost as a military commander.