Around the World in 80s Movies

Around the World in 80s Movies


Alien Nation (1988) | Graham Baker

September 18, 2020

Set in the near future of 1991, it's been three years since the landing of an actual flying saucer landed on Earth, containing a species of aliens (dubbed "Newcomers") who had been genetically engineered as slave laborers.  The Newcomers are smarter and physically stronger than their human counterparts, which makes them more suitable to perform certain jobs, and the backlash against them from the human population is escalating daily.  In this environment, Detective Sergeant Matt Sykes (James Caan) has his partner killed by one of the alien "slags", making it his mission to take down the ones responsible.  He voluntarily requests to be partnered with the first Newcomer police detective, Sam Francisco (Mandy Patinkin) - Sykes calls him "George" instead, and while they haven't been specifically assigned the homicide case, Sykes won't stay off of it, employing Sam's help as needed in order to get to the bottom of the underworld slag crime syndicate. Directed by Graham Baker from a script by Rockne S. O'Bannon and an uncredited James Cameron.