The inhabitants of the remote island of Fera bake in a strange heatwave while the rest of Britain freezes in deep midwinter. Renegade scientist Godfrey Hanson (Christopher Lee) tries to figure it all out with the assistance of the island's doctor, Vernon Stone (Peter Cushing) and local writer Jeff Callum (Patrick Allen) - if Callum can break away from his sexy young secretary Angela (Jane Merrow). A cheap, cheerful and quintessentially British take on an alien invasion with the village pub acting as a base for operations and the melodrama between the characters taking precedence over any annoying space invaders. The "monsters" are terrible and easily destroyed, but director Terence Fisher keeps things galloping along at a good pace thereby helping skip over some clunky dialogue and laughable pseudo-science. He gives the whole thing a nicely claustrophobic feel builds the tension up cleverly at all the right points. The production is far from extravagant, but it is brightly shot by Reginald H. Wyer and the leads are all pertty good - Lee and Cushing excellent, Patrick Allen servicable and Jane Merrow fun as the slightly psychotic ingeune who fills out a bikini with aplomb. Despite its weaknesses there is much to like and enjoy in this effective and enjoyable alien invasion effort. ( )