JOHN CARPENTER'S VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED

* ½

STARRING: Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley, Linda Kozlowski, Michael Paré, Mark Hamill, Meredith Salenger, Constance Forslund, Buck Flower, Thomas Dekker, Lindsey Haun

1995, 98 Minutes, Directed by: John Carpenter

Something obviously got lost in this remake of the 1960 sci-fi classic, Village of the Damned.

What I would like to know is why do the strange alien kids all wear grey? Is it director John (Escape from LA, The Thing) Carpenter's attempt to make them look disturbingly similar? Like a modern version of the Hitler youth - all replete with their peculiar blonde hair?

Unlike the original film, this version is set in latter-day America and not 1960s Britain where school uniforms were (and still is) compulsory, so that probably explains the kids' predilection for grey clothes. A small English village is obviously also a more atmospheric setting for the tale since this film is devoid of any real tension or thrills.

• Read a book review of John Carpenter: The Prince of Darkness by Gilles Boulenger.
• Read extracts from John Carpenter: The Prince of Darkness.