1984’s The Brother from Another Planet delivers a quirky sci-fi movie with social commentary, and it does so without the big-budget trappings of the blockbusters dominating theaters at the time.
What Is It?
This early film from well-known indie director John Sayles follows an alien fugitive who appears to be African American and who comes to Earth—Harlem, to be exact—fleeing the slavery of his own planet. He cannot, or does not, speak, but he has the ability to fix electronic items like televisions and video games with the touch of his hand. He befriends several people in Harlem, but loyalties are tested when two mysterious men in black come looking for him.
Cast: Joe Morton, Darryl Edwards, Steve James, Bill Cobbs, John Sayles, David Strathairn
Crew: John Sayles (Writer/Director)
Original Release: September 7, 1984
Legacy:
At a time when the Blockbuster Era was picking up steam and cranking out scores of big-budget thrill rides, this unassuming indie release delivered a quirky film that relied on a witty script and clever—at times poignant—observations to carry its story rather than spectacle or special effects.
A Closer Look
These days, John Sayles is known as a respected indie film writer, producer, and director, but many people may not realize that he got his start in the 1970s penning scripts for Roger Corman cheapies like Piranha and Alligator. Sayles eventually graduated from those films, but before earning acclaim as an alt-Hollywood stalwart working largely outside the genre space, he put together this sci-fi comedy. While it never received a great deal of attention upon release, it has since developed a modest cult following.
The Brother from Another Planet was made on a shoestring budget, but it does not carry the B-movie feel of Sayles’ earlier work with Corman. Instead, it hints at the indie path he would soon carve out, thanks to its sharp script and the earthy, authentic performances of its well-chosen cast. Joe Morton (Eureka), in one of his earlier roles, plays the Brother (no other name is given) as a man who is lost and desperate, yet possessed of quiet confidence and integrity. Sayles surrounds Morton with a cast of colorful characters, many of whom appear only briefly but still manage to stand out.
The fact that the Brother does not speak leaves the talking to those around him, who often fill in the words for him and, in doing so, reveal more about themselves. Through this, Sayles gives us a look at ourselves through the eyes of an outsider yet often by way of our own words. The result is a character-driven story, even though most of the characters appear only fleetingly. Sayles doesn’t linger on these interactions or provide much backstory, but his deft writing renders many of the people fully formed, making an immediate impression with a Quentin Tarantino–like vibe (with far less blood, though).
The Brother from Another Planet was released in 1984 with little fanfare and quickly made its way to video store shelves, where it developed a small cult following. Since then, it has largely flown under the radar and has never received the wider recognition it deserves as a smart science-fiction film that both satirizes and comments on our own world. It remains a rare sci-fi gem and still holds up remarkably well, thanks to its lack of reliance on special effects, and it is certainly worth seeking out.
Why Was There No Sequel?
The Brother from Another Planet was not a box-office hit, so there was little financial incentive to produce a sequel, even though the story did leave room for further exploration. Additionally, John Sayles has never been one to produce sequels, preferring instead to focus on original, self-contained stories.
Should It Be Rebooted?
No. Just no. This movie is perfect as it is, anchored by an excellent performance from Joe Morton and a colorful cast of characters. While the current political climate might inspire interest in revisiting the idea of an alien seeking refuge in the United States, that concept can be explored without rehashing The Brother from Another Planet, which does not have much name recognition to begin with. Run with the alien refugee idea, but leave John Sayles’ film alone.
Interesting Facts:
John Sayles financed this movie himself using part of his MacArthur Fellows “genius” grant to cover the $350k production costs.
Sayles played one of the two “men in black” in the movie and a young David Strathairn (Alphas, The Expanse) played the other in what was one of his earliest roles. Strathairn’s first film appearance was in Sayles’ non-genre debut, Return of the Secaucus Seven. Although the characters are never named onscreen, the script identifies them as Uno (Sayles) and Dos (Strathairn).
Sayles’ other early genre credits include the Joe Dante directed The Howling (1981) for which he wrote the screenplay and the Roger Corman produced cult sci fi film Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) which he provided the story and screenplay for.
Where Can You Watch It?
The move was released on DVD, but it is not great quality as I believe it was taken from a public domain copy of the film, and it has since gone out of print. It is available to stream with a subscription to the AMC+ streaming service and it is also available for free (with ads) on services like The Roku Channel, Fawesome, and Pluto TV. You can buy it VOD from services like Amazon.com.
