68 Years Later, This Underrated ‘50s Sci-Fi Movie Is Still Amazing

There were some groundbreaking science fiction films in the 1950s, but one of the most underrated gems is still amazing almost 70 years later. In the wake of WWII and the advent of nuclear technology, Hollywood became obsessed with science fiction in the 1950s. Alien invasions, giant monsters, and all sorts of science-gone-wrong stories filled drive-ins across the country.

Though most sci-fi from the ’50s was forgettable, some have stood the test of time. Movies like The Day the Earth Stood Still and War of the Worlds define the era, and they still hold weight today. The Atomic Age also produced cult classics, and one of the best hidden masterpieces is still underappreciated to this day.

I Married A Monster From Outer Space Is One Of The Most Underrated ’50s Sci-Fi Movie

Marge talks to her husband in the living room in I Married a Monster from Outer Space

The name I Married a Monster from Outer Space leaves little to the imagination, but the oft-forgotten late 1950s gem is much more than meets the eye. It stars Gloria Talbott as newlywed Marge, who suspects something is afoot when her husband starts to act strangely. The plot unravels as the rest of the men in her town also change.

Naturally, aliens are involved, and the body-snatching plot relies heavily on suspense, intrigue, and a heaping helping of Cold War-era paranoia. Taking a page from its predecessor, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, I Married a Monster from Outer Space is an alien invasion story that subverts the usual flying saucer tropes.

It subverts other tropes by having a female lead in a male-dominated genre, and by opting for a more psychological approach as opposed to bombastic action. In fact, the overt science fiction elements are arguably the weakest part of the film. As to why the film is underrated, it has a lot to do with its release and subject matter.

I Married a Monster from Outer Space was remade in 1998 as a TV movie on UPN.

I Married a Monster from Outer Space was released on a double bill with The Blob, but was relegated to B-picture status. It was overshadowed by the intentionally goofy monster flick (that was in color), and looked slow and drab in comparison. Even today, Gene Fowler Jr.’s subversive sci-fi film is lumped in with other B-movies of questionable quality.

I Married A Monster From Outer Space Is More Than Just A B-Movie

Marge prepares to scream in I Married a Monster from Outer Space

Despite resembling a B-movie on the surface, I Married a Monster from Outer Space is actually rich with deeper meaning. First, Marge’s plight has a touch of subtle feminist messaging, and she’s not the hysterical woman archetype usually seen in older films. The men don’t take her concerns seriously, but she’s right all along.

The movie also deconstructs the conventional sexual politics of the ’50s, and the aliens’ plan is a thinly disguised jab at imposed motherhood. The film blatantly deals with issues of sex, something that was still forbidden in mainstream Hollywood films, but it does so without being salacious or cynical.

While I Married a Monster from Outer Space might move slower than its 1950s science fiction counterparts, it’s a more rewarding experience overall. It has aged like fine wine, largely because it works as a time capsule and as a living document. The filmmaking is strong, which allows the story’s abundant themes to continue to be evergreen many decades later.