Invasion of the Animal People (in Swedish Rymdinvasion i Lappland) is a 1959 Swedish-American science fiction film.
Diane Wilson, a young American woman, experiences a UFO visit. She flies to Europe to visit her uncle Dr. Frederick Wilson, a famous geologist, and flirts with her uncle's colleague, the handsome Dr. Erik Engstrom. The two scientists are soon called to Lapland to investigate a meteorite and reports of mutilated reindeer. To their annoyance, Diane stows away on the plane. A huge yeti-like creature is soon rampaging through Lapland, tearing apart houses and terrifying the locals. Unbeknownst to the humans, the creature is being controlled by aliens in a snowbound spaceship. It captures Diane and carries her around for a while. A mob of torch-wielding Laplanders assemble and drive the creature off a cliff, whereupon the aliens leave the planet.
This movie contains examples of:
- Aliens Steal Cattle: In this case, aliens mutilate reindeer.
- Alternate DVD Commentary: It received the RiffTrax treatment in 2018.
- The Chanteuse: The lady singing "The Midnight Sun" at the ski chalet.
- Energy Ball: The alien ship is portrayed as simply a glowing spot.
- Fauxlosophic Narration: "If we search deeply enough into this, perhaps we find an omen."
- Made of Explodium: The plane bursts into flame after a small piece of wood siding is thrown against its propeller.
- Market-Based Title: In addition to the original Swedish title, the film had at least three English titles: Invasion of the Animal People, Space Invasion of Lapland, and Terror in the Midnight Sun.
- Monster Delay: The yeti-like creature doesn't make an appearance until the 46-minute mark.
- Rubber-Forehead Aliens: The aliens resemble coneheads in black robes.
- Scenery Porn: Lots of loving shots of the arctic landscape, ski slopes, and so on.Bill Corbett: Ah, the majestic "padding the living [bleep] out of this movie" scene.
- Sexy Silhouette: While Diane is undressing in the cabin.
- Spinning Paper: Complete with plenty of fake mundane news items, like "Suit to Begin Over Delmonico's Name" and "American Mining Expert Asks for British Citizenship".
- The Smurfette Principle: Diane is the only female character with a speaking part.
- The Narrator: The English version makes heavy use of voice-over by John Carradine. All plot developments during the first act are conveyed by narration.
- Torches and Pitchforks: After their camp is attacked, the Laplanders form a torch-wielding mob and go cross-country-skiing after the creature.
