Thompson plays astronaut Edward Carruthers, the sole survivor of the first manned mission to Mars.

He claims some kind of Martian monster killed nine of his fellow crewmen and inexplicably left him alive. The U.S. government doesn't believe him, however.

They've sent a second team to Mars to rescue him, and bring him back for a court martial and criminal prosecution.

But guess what hideous thing has also boarded the spaceship bound for Earth?

Soon, the creature known as 'It' begins stalking Carruthers and his crew. And It means to finish them off, one by one!

From the same director as Zombies of Mora Tau (1957) comes this little low budget number.

While It! doesn't reach the dizzying heights of Howard Hawks' The Thing, it does possess a feisty kind of claustrophobic energy.

The small spaceship proves a nicely controlled setting for the action, and Corrigan is spunky as the title monster. But the biggest drawback is the cast, which never manages to distinguish itself.

Only Patterson and Doran make any kind of impression, and even then it's minimal.

But if you're in the mood for a simple midnight treat - or to see what 'inspired' ALIEN - then check this out.

Also known simply as The Terror from Beyond Space.