{{Short description|1989 film by Fred Olen Ray}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Alienator | image = Alienator-vhs-movie-cover-md.jpg | alt = | caption = Home media cover | director = Fred Olen Ray | producer = Jeffrey C. Hogue{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} | writer = Paul Garson{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} | starring = {{plainlist|* Jan-Michael Vincent * John Phillip Law * Ross Hagen * Dyana Ortelli * Teagan * P. J. Soles}} | music = Chuck Cirino{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} | cinematography = Gary Graver{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} | editing = Chris Roth{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} | studio = {{plainlist|* American-Independent Prods. * Majestic Intl.{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} }} | distributor = Prism Entertainment{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} | released = {{Film date|1990|2|8|}} | runtime = 92 minutes{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} | country = United States | language = English }}
'''''Alienator''''' is a 1990 science fiction film directed by Fred Olen Ray, produced by Jeffrey C. Hogue, and starring Jan-Michael Vincent.
The film was described by Leonard Maltin and confirmed by Fred Olen Ray to be a "semi-remake" of the 1957 film ''The Astounding She-Monster''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Maltin|first=Leonard|author-link=Leonard Maltin|year=2015|title=Turner Classic Movies Presents Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965|edition=third|publisher=Plume|isbn=978-0147516824}}</ref> Robert Clarke, who starred in that film, also appears in ''Alienator''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Weldon|first=Michael J.|year=1996|title=The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|isbn=978-0312131494}}</ref>
==Plot== Kol, an alien criminal, escapes from a spaceship into the woods of an American suburb. The commander of the spaceship dispatches "the Alienator"—a deadly gynoid, to capture Kol. She relentlessly pursues Kol and a group of teenagers who find him without knowing his past.
==Cast== * Jan-Michael Vincent as Commander * John Phillip Law as Ward Armstrong * Ross Hagen as Kol * Teagan Clive as Alienator * Dyana Ortelli as Orrie * Jesse Dabson as Benny * Dawn Wildsmith as Caroline * P.J. Soles as Tara * Robert Clarke as Lund * Richard Wiley as Rick * Leo Gordon as Colonel Coburn * Robert Quarry as "Doc" Burnside * Fox Harris as Burt * Hoke Howell as Harley * Jay Richardson as Prison Sergeant Major * Dan Golden as Electrocuted Prisoner * Joseph Pilato as Tech #2
==Release== ''Alienator'' was originally set for release between May and August in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|title=Mid-May through August|date=January 15, 1989|page=12}}</ref> Prism Entertainment announced in November 1989 to release the film along with ''Time Troopers'' in late December.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=November 21, 1989|page=36|title=When TV Mattered}}</ref> Prism later released the film on February 8, 1990.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Chicago Tribune|title=Coming Attractions|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81143742/1990-early-home-video-release-info/|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 19, 1990|page=62}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Boston Globe|title=Advertising Comes to the Movies|last=Blowen|first=Michael|date=January 26, 1990|page=47}}</ref>
On March 19, 2013, the film was released on DVD by Shout! Factory as part of a two-disc "Action-Packed Movie Marathon" set, which contains a total of four films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Action-Marathon-Cyclone-Alienator-Exterminator/dp/B00AJXO5X6|title=Action Packed Movie Marathon (Cyclone, Alienator, Eye Of The Tiger & Exterminator 2)|website=Amazon.com|access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> On June 13, 2017, the film was released on Blu-ray by Scream Factory, featuring a commentary track by director Fred Olen Ray.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Alienator-Blu-ray-Jan-Michael-Vincent/dp/B06XHTG2YT|title=Alienator [Blu-ray]|website=Amazon.com|access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref>
==Reception== From contemporary reviews, "Lor." of ''Variety'' reviewed the AIP video cassette on November 18, 1989.{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} "Lor." declared the film to be a "tongue-in cheek sci-fi thriller geared towards home video fans with a soft spot for the old stars and old-fashioned serials."{{sfn|Lor.|1991}} "Lor." noted the film "suffers from a weak script" that gave Jan-Michael Vincent and John Phillip Law little to do while P.J. Soles is "stuck in a rather goofy costume as an outer space technician".{{sfn|Lor.|1991}}
==See also== * Cyborgs in fiction
==References== {{reflist}}
===Sources=== * {{cite book|title=Variety's Film Reviews 1989-1990|volume=21|publisher=R. R. Bowker|isbn=0-8352-3089-9|year=1991|at=There are no page numbers in this book. This entry is found under the header "December 6, 1989"|author=Lor.}}
==External links == * {{IMDb title|id=0096786}}
{{Fred Olen Ray}}
Category:1990 films Category:1990 action thriller films Category:1990 independent films Category:1990 science fiction action films Category:American independent films Category:American science fiction action films Category:American action thriller films Category:Films about androids Category:Films directed by Fred Olen Ray Category:1990 English-language films Category:1990 American films Category:1990 science fiction films Category:English-language independent films Category:English-language science fiction action films Category:English-language action thriller films