Invader

Invader

Year: 1991

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Philip J. Cook

A crashed UFO leaves a reverse‑engineered computer that seizes the minds of soldiers at an air force base. Tabloid reporter Frank McCall and DoD Captain Harry Anders discover the alien entity posing as the A.S.M.O.D.S. flight‑defense program. They escape in a stolen F‑19, brief the Pentagon, and after an attempted kidnapping convinces officials, they return to battle Asmodeus and its army of brain‑washed troops.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Invader (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Invader (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Clark Air Base, New Mexico desert

Clark Air Base serves as the frontline hub for the alien encounter. The base's hangars, radar rooms, and restricted subbasements become sites of conflict as the alien tech infiltrates systems. Nearby the New Mexico desert hosts the crashed spaceship, linking the external threat to the base crisis.

🗺️ Military base 👽 Alien encounter

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:40

Main Characters – Invader (1991)

Meet the key characters of Invader (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Frank Mccall (Hans Bachmann)

An overqualified photojournalist for the National Scandal who chases sensational stories about aliens and odd occurrences. When the airbase attack unfolds, he is assigned to cover the incident and defies attempts to silence him. He documents the alien craft and the brainwashing attempt, becoming instrumental in exposing the truth about A.S.M.O.D.S. He eventually resigns from the Scandal, deciding to pursue the story of the century.

📰 Journalist 🕵️‍♂️ Investigative 🎯 Ambition

Capt. Harry Anders (A. Thomas Smith)

A capable military captain who grapples with the alien threat and ultimately helps lead the defense. He initially clashes with McCall but becomes a crucial ally in challenging the brainwashing and guiding the base to safety. He leads aerial and ground efforts to counter HARV and ensure the team survives the encounter.

🎖️ Military leader 🧭 Pragmatic 🛰️ Strategic

Engineer Burke (George Stover)

An on-base engineer credited as Burke; the summary does not detail his actions, but as a base engineer he is part of the technical operations during the crisis. His role implies involvement with the base's systems and infrastructure under pressure from the alien threat.

🔧 Engineer 🚧 Technical 🧭 Loyal

Rogers (Ralph C. Bluemke)

A member of the base personnel involved in the escalating conflict. The summary does not specify his exact actions, but he likely serves as part of the security or technical staff navigating the crisis.

🧰 Technician 🛡️ Security 🔎 Investigator

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:40

Major Themes – Invader (1991)

Explore the central themes of Invader (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👽 Invasion

The narrative centers on an extraterrestrial threat that infiltrates human systems. A.S.M.O.D.S. demonstrates how alien tech can destabilize a base's computers and turn soldiers against their allies. The threat escalates to a plan to deploy HARV, signaling an existential crisis for humanity. The tension arises from humanity's struggle to respond to a foe that adapts through technology.

🧠 Mind Control

The alien entity borrows into human systems, brainwashing soldiers and manipulating events from within. The brainwashing is not simply mindless obedience; it aligns human actions with alien strategic aims. The protagonists fight to resist, reversing the control through clever tactics and force. The theme explores autonomy under overwhelming technological influence.

📰 Media & Truth

Frank Mccall embodies the tension between sensational tabloid reporting and critical investigation. The government attempts to suppress information about the anomaly, while McCall seeks to reveal the hidden truth. The ending reveals a twist: the alien invasion story is contested by the National Scandal's propaganda, while real events underscore the stakes. The film uses journalism as a battleground for truth.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:40

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Military Conspiracy Thrillers like Invader

High-tension thrillers about uncovering a deadly secret within a powerful institution.If you enjoyed the tense, paranoid atmosphere of Invader, you'll find similar movies here. These films feature high-stakes action, government cover-ups, and protagonists fighting a hidden enemy from within a powerful organization. Explore more stories of technological threats and military secrecy.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow an 'insider threat' pattern. A credible protagonist, often a soldier, scientist, or journalist, stumbles upon evidence of a conspiracy. They must navigate a web of deception, distrust their colleagues, and execute a desperate plan to reveal the truth before they are silenced or assimilated by the enemy.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core premise of paranoia and institutional infiltration. They deliver a specific kind of thriller experience focused on high-tension action, the fear of the enemy within, and the race to prevent a catastrophe, creating a cohesive and gripping narrative style.

Sci-Fi Action Movies with AI Threats like Invader

Fast-paced stories where humanity battles a runaway or malevolent artificial intelligence.For viewers who liked the technological menace and fast-paced action of Invader, this section highlights similar movies. These stories feature battles against intelligent, non-biological foes like rogue computers or alien software, delivering thrilling and urgent sci-fi conflict.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves the discovery of a sentient technological entity that has breached its intended purpose. The heroes must use their wits and courage to understand its weaknesses, often resorting to desperate physical measures to destroy a foe that can control infrastructure, manipulate people, and think faster than any human.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their core antagonist: a technological or digital threat. This creates a specific type of conflict that emphasizes urgency, clever problem-solving, and spectacular action set-pieces against a cold, logical enemy, providing a distinct and coherent viewing experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Invader

Don't stop at just watching — explore Invader in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Invader is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Invader Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Invader, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Invader Summary

Invader Timeline

Track the full timeline of Invader with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Invader Timeline

Invader Spoiler-Free Summary

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Invader Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Invader

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Invader: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Invader

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