Kronos Review

The 1950's were a hotbed for alien invasion science-fiction films. Some were good, some were not so good, and some were legendarily awful. One film from this era which might not immediately spring to mind is 1957's "Kronos," also known as "Kronos, Destroyer of Worlds." The film depicts an alien invasion on two fronts: an alien presence possesses the body of a government observatory director, while simultaneously a massive mechanical behemoth emerges on the coast of Mexico, dubbed "Kronos." Kronos begins a destructive rampage across the countryside, absorbing nuclear energy as it goes. The addition of the more intimate human element of the invasion vis a vis the possession is a strong counterpoint to the looming presence of Kronos itself, which has a unique and memorable design. The sense of the monsters' size is easily conveyed. The special effects are above-average for the time, as is the tightly-paced storyline. It is a shame that "Kronos" does not share the limelight with its contemporaries, as it is a fine example of science-fiction cinema, and demonstrates the strengths of the genre without overindulging itself overmuch. As evidenced by the recent surge of remakes, 1950's science-fiction maintains a strong presence in modern popular consciousness. There is a charm and sophistication to these films which does not seem to have been replicated in modern science-fiction. The moviegoers of yesteryear were perhaps more patient, more cerebral, or perhaps simply had a different set of standards for their viewing entertainment. Perhaps "Kronos" has more to teach a modern audience than one would expect.