It! The Terror From Beyond Space

IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE (1958) - July 3, 2011
This film supposedly inspired Dan O'Bannen when he wrote Alien, and it's not hard to see where that came from, whether it's true or not: the film follows a crew of astronauts, on their way back from Mars, who must contend with an alien stowaway who is picking them off one by one.  Despite its obvious origins as a low-budget B-movie, the film's lack of funds is only really apparent with the creature itself (it's obviously a guy in a shoddy rubber suit).  The characters are all a bit thin, but the film is decently made and entertaining throughout (the svelt 69 minute runtime probably helps).  **1/2