With the release of the pretty dull The Host, how about checking out some far more appealing and interesting Alien Possession movies. These are far better bet. (Remember, these are my choices and I am sure there are hundreds more you could check out).

10. I Married A Monster From Outer Space (1958)

You can’t beat a good, old-fashioned 50s sci-fi thriller, made with the lowest of budgets and shown as a second feature at some drive-in. This one had the human race infiltrated by aliens so perfect, that Gloria Talbott falls for one and marries it until she notices some very strange behaviour. Yes, it’s utter nonsense but the tongue is slammed in the cheek and it’s cheap production values are always great fun to behold.

9. Invaders From Mars (1953)

Another classic from the 50s although this one is a better, more serious affair and a neat twist to the Boy Who Cried Wolf tale. Young Jimmy Hart sees a craft crash land and while his father goes to investigate, comes back a very changed man. No one will believe the boy that aliens are taking over the human race until he meets a doctor and an astronomer. Part of the paranoia that rushed around the States during the McCarthy witch hunts and the Communist infiltration. Still a decent piece of cult fun.

8. Shivers (1976)

David Cronenberg’s low budget horror has an apartment block invaded by small worm-like parasites finding their way inside the residents, turning them into sex-crazed fiends. Even though it is full of dodgy acting, it still manages to shock and you can see that Cronenberg was a film maker to watch.

7. Species (1995)

Totally rubbish yet fun nevertheless as scientists manage to create a human by using the instructions from beyond. When the beauty escapes so she can reproduce, a man hunt begins. Not solely an alien possession film but more like an alien wanting to be possessed (if you know what I mean). Considering that Ben Kingsley, Forest Whittaker and Alfred Molina star, it’s lifted from just rubbish to a real guilty pleasure.

6. The Faculty (1998)

50s B-movie sensibility with a 90s big budget as director Robert Rodriguez brings us a tale of teenagers in a high school who notice some very odd behaviour among the teaching staff. Littered with some now big names (Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood) and the likes of Piper Laurie, Robert Patrick and Jon Stewart  joining the fun. Grisly for some, it never once takes itself too seriously.

5. The Hidden (1987)

80s style for a sci-fi cop thriller in which an alien goes around killing people and then using their body to hide in while cop Michael Nouri is forced to work with another alien (in the body of a dead FBI agent) to track him down. Kyle MacLachlan gets to play weird again in a typical 80s film equip with sharp suits and pumping rock soundtrack.

4. The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

Based on the TV series, this was one of Hammer’s first film ventures, a horror sci-fi in which an astronaut returns to earth after a failed mission and is possessed by something nasty from the stars and going on a killing spree. Brian Donlevy plays the Professor assigned to stop him. Considering the time it was made, this was quite a horrific experience.

3. The Thing (1982)

Now classic John Carpenter horror set in the Antarctic as a group of isolated scientists discover a spaceship hidden in the ice and then soon they become possessed by the invisible creature from within. Kurt Russell goes after the unseen monster in a film that has the tension cranked up to ten and the special effects are still both amazing and horrible. Not for the faint-hearted. Surprisingly a remake of Howard Hawks equally terrific The Thing From Another World, it had a below average prequel recently with the same name.

2. Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1958)

The granddaddy of all alien possession films, Don Siegel’s pacy sci-fi thriller was the ultimate parable for what was happening in the States at that time, as nervy Kevin McCarthy notices that the human race is changing but again, no one wants to believe him. With its terrific twist at the end, it has been remade several times, the best being in 1978 with Donald Sutherland but you should always stick with the original.

1. Alien (1979)

There was only one film to top the list and even though not totally about alien possession, it does include the most famous one of all and without it, there wouldn’t be any of the other tense moments that has made Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror a modern classic. Often copied, never better, it still to this day has the power to shock and that’s the sign of a perfect cinematic experience.