Tag Archives: Jack Palance

Without Warning (1980)

The alien snags another victim!
The alien snags another victim!

People are hunted by a tall humanoid extraterrestrial that kills his victims using spinning, living projectiles.

It preys on human fear...
‘It preys on human fear’…
Kevin Peter Hall played the alien
Kevin Peter Hall played the alien
'Man is the endangered species'
‘Man is the endangered species’

Directed by Greydon (SATAN’S CHEERLEADERS) Clark, this low budget film is structured like a backwoods slasher movie but with an alien instead of a maniac.

WITHOUT WARNING features lots of shots of people falling victim to the flying, fleshy, toothy blobs, showing the red tendrils sinking into human flesh to suck blood and exude yellow gunk.

Red tendrils sink into a victim's face
Red tendrils sink into a victim’s face

Though the film’s pace sometimes flags, the attack scenes are messy, gory fun, with loads of close-ups of the tendrils digging under the skin or through clothing!

Tendrils dig through clothing
Tendrils pierce through clothing

Predating PREDATOR by seven years, WITHOUT WARNING has a (mainly unseen), silent, blue-skinned alien hunting humans (using those killer pancake organisms) for sport. The extraterrestrial hunter is played by Kevin Peter Hall, who also played the Predator in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.

Eek! It's the alien!
Eek! It’s the alien!

The colourful cast, which enthusiastically chew the scenery, includes Jack Palance, Martin Landau, Neville Brand, Cameron Mitchell and Ralph Meeker. The movie also features a young David Caruso wearing very small shorts!

Martin Landau plays unhinged Vietnam vet Fred 'Sarge' Dobbs
Martin Landau plays unhinged Vietnam vet Fred ‘Sarge’ Dobbs
Big ol' Jack Palance
Big ol’ Jack Palance
Watch out, Cameron!
Watch out, Cameron!
David Caruso
David Caruso

The grungy, satisfying practical FX were created by Greg (VAN HELSING) Cannom.
Makeup effects legend Rick Baker did uncredited work on the film, too, building the alien’s big-domed head.

The fleshy projectile has teeth!
The fleshy projectile has teeth!
Belgian poster
Belgian poster
Oh no! Another pic of Caruso playing an obnoxious character in very, very small shorts!
Oh no! Another pic of Caruso playing an obnoxious character in very, very small shorts!
Finnish VHS cover
Finnish VHS cover
German VHS cover
German VHS cover
French poster
French poster
UK VHS cover
UK VHS cover
Fun, squishy, gooey double feature
Fun, squishy, gooey double feature
A couple more posters
A couple more posters
The alien trophy hunter lurks by a shack
The alien trophy hunter lurks by a shack
Boom!
Boom!
Advertisement