Paradoxical...

.. though I suppose it's sort of like most B-movies of the 80s (and before).

On the one hand it's a pretty blatant rip-off of earlier, better, sci-fi horror films. I see shades of both ALIEN and THE THING in there (there is a creature, but a lot of the times it's the actual 'people' that the heroes have to be worried about due to mind control [or collective intelligence, whatever]).

And on the other hand I cannot deny that it has charm, wit, heart and soul. When I compare this to a modern big budget Hollywood picture, the latter seems devoid of any soul or passion. This manages to be more entertaining than most Hollywood pictures yet with only a fraction of their budgets. There are actual practical effects, an attempt to make some decent set designs, and it seems that the film-makers actually had some kind of a vision and some sense of creativity. No, I'm not saying it's perfect, or even 'good', but they seem to at least be putting their own blood and sweat into it. Of course, I wasn't there. I also can't read people's minds. They could have been fvcking around for all I know (the case can certainly be made in that regard for Klaus Kinski, who's heartily grinning the whole time and having the time of his life for the easiest paycheck he's ever made). But, like I said, it seems like they were trying. And their efforts turned out an enjoyable, even if derivative, B-sci-fi horror movie.

Kudos.