Great site! Found it while looking for info on a movie that scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. (Just finished watching DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW for the first time in 30 years and now want to watch this other one if I can find it.)
I saw it on television — can't remember if broadcast or cable — between 1977 and the summer of 1983. The basic premise is that some object is passing close to the Earth and is making people do crazy things. There was a scene in which people go crazy and attack each other in a grocery store, and another in which a guy puts a shotgun in his mouth and pulls the trigger for no reason.
I'm positive it isn't NIGHT OF THE COMET, but I just can't remember what the hell it is called. Hoping somebody remembers this old one.
Thanks,
— TonyB
UPDATE: NAME THAT TRAUMA SOLVED! Special thanks to kinderpal David Fullam for naming it with STARSHIP INVASIONS.
It might be Starship Invasions, and the suicide ray the villains hit Earth with. That indeed had death by shotgun and death in a grocery store.
WOW That looks like it could be it DF!
I was about to say that I never heard of this one but while watching the clips I think I DO remember some of it!
At least the UFO looks familiar!
The clip below has the scene of the guy shooting himself in the head.
It's freaky how they keep repeating "Come Inside…" just like in Candle Cove!!!
I think the grocery store scene is in this one…
Here is the trailer too…
I have to watch this whole movie! It looks too good to be true. I love that "Suicide Epidemic" is on the cover of Time Magazine…
A thousand million thanks DF!
My pleasure. I love this film and saw it back in the day at the theater when I was a little boy. I'm holding out hope for a legit DVD release. Aliens, robots, hot women, an all star cast, and suicide rays! What more could anyone want?
That's exactly it! You guys are amazing. Thanks very much!
Thank You Tony! Without your "Name That Trauma!" I would have never known about this movie!
David- You are right, this one really needs some DVD action- a used VHS costs 78$! I'm watching it on Youtube asap.
DAMN IT, Aunt John! Why did you have to illustrate this post with screencaps from THAT cartoon? I could never stand that one, particularly how all of the children are so heartbroken after thinking they would have such a lovely Christmas, especially the little girl with the tedddy bear. I'm tearing up just thinking about it (ok not really). Doesn't matter that the inventor helped them out…