Jack Elam enjoys a rare top-billed starring role in
The Aurora Encounter. The heavily bearded
Elam plays a 19th century Texas eccentric who besottedly welcomes a space alien (
Mickey Hays) into his home. Upon learning of these nocturnal visits, newspaper editor
Carol Bagdasarian (the wife of
Alvin and the Chipmunks producer
Ross Bagdasarian Jr.) begins writing them up in her paper. She then reports these curious sightings to the governor, played by none other than former
Little Rascal Spanky McFarland. The Governer feigns disbelief, but sends ranger
Will Mitchell to investigate, with orders to shoot any and all extraterrestrials on sight. Meanwhile, the space visitor proves to be a friendly one by rescuing three locals from a mine cave-in.
Bagdasarian and the townsfolk attempt to signal the visitor and let him know that they mean him no harm, but they haven't reckoned with the trigger-happy
Mitchell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide