Andy, you've evidently never seen the original William Cameron Menzies '53 version of INVADERS as it has virtually the same ending as the remake (although they replicated the "German solution" for certain overseas venues.) With the Menzies version, this denoument IS somewhat disconcerting the first time you see it, but Menzies bizarre production design jumps out to forshadow the film ending upon later viewings.
One thing though--if you saw the Menzies film as kid back in the 50's, you NEVER forgot it. Especially the strange, haunting atonal chorus that announces the presence of the Martians (and their sand whirlpool trapdoors), reportedly the work of credited composer Raoul Kraushaar's "ghost writer," Mort Glickman. The only truly debit feature of the '53 version is all the stock military footage.
Hooper's remake has superior production values but really disappoints in capturing the "nightmare" quality of the '53 version. Hunter Carson is just awful as the young lead. Amusing to see Eric Pierpoint of the old ALIEN NATION televison series show up as "Sergeant Renaldi" in the last act.
FYI, one little fact that the reviewer fails to mention is that about the 1984 film GHOULIES is that it was the first film of none other then LAW AND ORDER-SVU star Mariska Hargitay as "DONNA"...
She was very young and hot (With very 80's hair)..
That is perhaps the best reason to remember the film in the first place.
