A businessman Clay Howard is involved in a car accident. As part of his recuperation process he and his wife go on a vacation to a remote village. Later, in the night, Howard observes everyone, including his wife, leave the town in trucks like somnambulists. He then tries to find out why.Night Slaves is another of a subset of American 70's TV movies whose objective was partially to chill its audience. Obviously its television restrictions mean that it can only go so far but it does have a nicely mysterious undercurrent that keeps things interesting. This one certainly goes into fairly unexpected territory when the source of the mystery is discovered to be aliens who have become stranded on Earth. They invade the bodies of the townspeople in order to make them repair their damaged spaceship. It's not ultimately the most interesting solution to the puzzle to be perfectly honest but the film does have an interesting ambiance in the lead up, while it does end on an ending that could almost be described as poetic. Of additional note is the fact that it features Leslie Neilson as the sheriff in a pre-comedy role, which always feels a bit unintentionally surreal nowadays.

Although I only saw the film once and quite a while ago I remember it to be an entertaining film that had a very interesting premise.From what I remember of it, I thought that it showed some interesting possibilities in the story line. That a marooned alien spacecraft would use local talent, so to speak, to effect repairs was to me a novel idea. And to have the locals be unaware of their being used was even better. It put me in mind of "Strange Invaders" which as I recall had a similar idea but the people in that one I think were replaced by aliens who assumed their identities. I like this idea much more as the visitors seemed to be trying to have as little impact as possible on the hometown folks and it fell more in line with the non-interference provisions upheld throughout the Star Trek series and movies.I would like to see it again, though not bad enough to buy it anytime soon.

I saw this movie again very recently for the first time in many years. It is not generally available for purchase. Anyone wishing to see it will have to search far and wide to locate a used copy, most likely recorded from television. The movie is little known and was probably never marketed for purchase.The movie itself is unremarkable, in terms of its story and presentation. In both story and presentation, "Night Slaves" is similar to other films of the science fiction/paranormal genre that marked this period. Films such as "The People" and "The Stranger Within" are siblings of "Night Slaves," stylistically speaking. All three films have the added distinction of being "made for TV" adaptations. "Night Slaves" is directed in a style that reminds me of sci-fi thrillers of the 1950s. Watching this movie, I am especially reminded of the classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." In keeping with the boundaries imposed by television, the direction of "Night Slaves" is characteristically low-key. Consequently, "Night Slaves" story and style never made and never will make an impact on the viewer."Night Slaves" impact on the viewer is primarily in terms of nostalgia. It was first seen by many viewers in their childhood or young adulthood and may very well transport them back to a time many of them remember fondly. A time when, in addition to the ordinary pleasures of childhood, talk of UFOs and aliens from outer space generated a sense of expectancy and adventure not only in the children but in the adults in the family as well. "Night Slaves" might also be worth viewing if you are a fan of one of the actors. Actors such as the underrated James Franciscus, the stalwart Lee Grant, and the lovely Tisha Sterling are here for viewers' entertainment."Night Slaves" is not a movie to shout praise about, but it will evoke often pleasant memories--even if they are corny--of an earlier era of life, when UFOs and beings from outer space caused quite a stir.

Now this movie had potential. However, several things were basically done wrong in the movie.Most of the people in the movie sleep in their clothes. The aliens who control everyone (save the hero) shouldn't understand about things like robes and slippers, yet the hero's wife dons hers before leaving. The town is about 95 percent male as well. The people move at normal speed from time to time, not looking like sleepwalkers at all.This could have been one of the great mind control movies. Instead, being made for TV in 1970, did not deliver.