Alien from L.A. (1988)

Director:

Albert Pyun

Writers:

Regina Davis (writer)
Albert Pyun (writer)

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The people at the center of the earth are about to get a visitor.

Plot:

A nerdish teenager goes looking for her missing archaeolist father, and stumbles into a strange underground civilization.

Plot Keywords:

Hidden Civilization | MST3K | Subterranean | Independent Film

Cast

Kathy Ireland	...	Wanda Saknussemm
William R. Moses	...	Guten 'Gus' Edway
Richard Haines	...	Prof. Arnold Saknussemm
Don Michael Paul	...	Robbie
Thom Mathews	...	Charmin'
Janet Du Plessis	...	Gen. Rykov / Shank / Custom Officer
Simon Poland	...	Consul Triton Crassus / The Mailman
Linda Kerridge	...	Auntie Pearl / Roeyis Freki
Kristen Trucksess	...	Stacy
Lochner De Kock	...	Professor Paddy Mahoney / Professor Ovid Galba
Deep Roy	...	Mambino
Albert Maritz	...	Mago / Maintenance Guy / Evangelist / Pack Slag Jack
Russel Savadier	...	Loki
Denis Smith	...	Anchorman
James Lithgow	...	Donaldson / Wrestling Announcer / Emcee

Also Known As:

Odeon
Wanda (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA | South Africa

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Grand Central Airport Midrand, South Africa

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

The last name for the main character is taken from Arne Sakneusemm, the Icelandic scientist who traveled to center of the earth in Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Kathy Ireland briefly loses her squeaky voice when she's doped up on the table. She laughs and says in a deeper voice (probably her real one), "You think I'm an alien?"

Quotes:

Wanda Saknussemm: Bitchin' left hook, Crassus!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Alien from L.A. (#6.16)" (1993)

PLEASE! This movie is bad

Even in her glasses wearing geek mode Kathy Ireland is very easy on the eyes but her acting is not easy to watch. Most of the actors in the film either take it way over the top (beyond "campy fun") or act slightly embarrassed at being there. The effects and soundtrack are nothing special and fairly low budget. The plot line REALLY stretches ones ability to suspend disbelief. Catch this one to laugh at if it comes on a premium movie channel or network Saturday afternoon TV, but DO NOT waist money on this thing.

One worthy mention for trivia purposes is that one of the underground mobsters is played by Deep Roy. Deep is now famous for playing (and doing it well) all the Oompa Loompas in Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."