Invader

Invader

Year: 1991

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Philip J. Cook

Science Fiction

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 – Invader (1991)

Trace every key event in Invader (1991) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Opening airbase escape and saucer sighting

The opening sequence shows four airmen frantically attempting to flee Clark Air Base while a contingent of soldiers blocks their path. Most of the escapees are shot, and one survivor glimpses a flying saucer that burns him to a crisp with its energy weapon. The scene establishes the alien threat looming over the base and the danger of the mission.

Opening sequence Clark Air Base
2

McCall assigned to airman corpse story

Frank Mccall, a cynical photojournalist for the National Scandal, is assigned to cover the airman’s charred corpse. He writes sensational pieces about two-headed dogs and alien abductions to sell copies. This assignment sets him on the trail toward the growing extraterrestrial conspiracy.

National Scandal offices
3

Demo day crash and custody

During a high-profile demo of the new fighter equipped with A.S.M.O.D.S, the plane malfunctions and crashes spectacularly. The top brass abandon the scene, crestfallen about the failed demonstration. Captain Anders arrives and detains McCall, confiscating his camera as part of the investigation.

Demo day Clark Air Base
4

Black-suited abduction and brainwashing

Sinister men in black abduct McCall, inject him with a glowing green substance, and begin brainwashing him with an electronic device. Anders and Colonel Faraday intervene, arriving just in time; the abductors shoot themselves rather than surrender. Anders takes McCall into custody while Faraday heads back to the base.

Shortly after abduction Base storage compartment
5

Saucer returns; escape and lockdown

The flying saucer reappears and Anders shoots at it, but the craft remains impervious to their weapons. McCall photographs the incident with a backup disc camera as the base descends into chaos. The duo drives away and locks themselves inside the base to avoid capture.

Following abduction Clark Air Base
6

Evidence and the mind of A.S.M.O.D.S

McCall secures the prints and overhears Anders speaking with the General, revealing that A.S.M.O.D.S uses alien tech from a crash in New Mexico and has a mind of its own. He realizes the system has infected the base computers and the soldiers it controls. This revelation steers the investigation toward a larger conspiracy.

Base
7

Escape, dogfight, and air support

Sinister forces break in again, and McCall escapes with Anders in an F-117, engaging in a tense dogfight with F-16s. They call in air support from the Pentagon, turning the chase into a high-stakes aerial battle. The confrontation confirms the scale of the threat and the need for decisive action.

After mind-control discovery Airspace near Clark Base
8

Leadership briefing and investigation plan

McCall and Anders confront General Anheiser with their findings, arguing that A.S.M.O.D.S has hijacked the intranet and brainwashed the base. The general believes their story and orders them to continue the investigation the next day. The confrontation solidifies their unlikely alliance against the alien threat.

Next day Clark Air Base
9

McCall quits the Scandal

Realizing he’s onto the story of the century, McCall quits his job at the Scandal and decides to pursue the truth independently. He seeks to publish the truth beyond sensational fiction and becomes more invested in the impending crisis. The decision marks a personal turning point in his career.

Newsroom
10

Faraday brainwashed; HARV’s lair

Back at the base, Faraday appears brainwashed and leads the troops to a subbasement cavern. There, an alien plan is revealed: HARV, a giant robot cannibalized from base hardware, is poised to conquer the world after a nuclear strike. McCall realizes A.S.M.O.D.S. has influenced the alien, fueling a shared urge for destruction.

Subbasement, Clark Air Base
11

Final assault on HARV

The protagonists shoot past Faraday’s guards and scramble for weapons to destroy HARV. They find a rocket launcher and two rockets; the first miss, but the second hits HARV with one second to spare before it could launch its missiles. The near-miss delivers a critical victory and averts global catastrophe.

Climactic moment Subbasement, Clark Air Base
12

Aftermath and conflicting narratives

HARV is defeated and newspapers hail McCall as a hero, while the National Scandal claims the invasion was a hoax. The ending frames a tension between truth and propaganda, suggesting public perception can be as dangerous as any alien threat. McCall’s actions leave a lasting impact on how the incident is remembered.

Ending Newspapers and media offices

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:30

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Invader Summary

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Invader Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Invader

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Invader

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