After their experience, Sue Beth, Ginger, and Becky visit Alain and tell them of their experience. The next day, Phillip visits Alain and informs her he too saw the UFO. Alain arranges a public attempt at summoning the extraterrestrial in town with the crystal. The attempt is successful, and the UFO descends on the town, much to the horror of the nonbelievers. Alain, Charlie, and the young girls are elated. As the extraterrestrial exits the UFO and approaches Sue Beth, Alain, and Ben, he is shot by Phillip. The townspeople watch as he returns inside his vehicle, which subsequently crashes into the town water tower before exploding. A devastated Sue Beth removes the extraterrestrial's body from the wreckage. A proper funeral is held for the extraterrestrial, attended by Alain, Charlie, Ben, Irene, and the girls. During the burial, Sue Beth lays the crystal atop the casket, which causes it to glisten and glow blue before it launches into the sky, disappearing in a torrent of light. Cast Production Development The film was based on the Aurora, Texas, UFO incident that allegedly occurred in April 1897. Casting Mickey Hays, who was cast in the film in the role of the alien, suffered from progeria that gave him an unusual appearance. Director Jim McCullough, Sr. remained close with Hays after the production until Hays's death at age 20 in 1992. The Make A Wish Foundation helped in the casting of Hays, whose wish was to be in a Hollywood movie. Filming The film was shot in Ferris, Texas. Release Critical response Jim Williams of the Santa Clarita Signal likened the film to a "low-budget E.T. Goes West." Home media Anchor Bay Entertainment issued a DVD edition of the film on June 24, 2003. Legacy A long sample of Elam's dialogue regarding "Dr. Neptune's delicious elixir" was used in hip hop artist DJ Shadow's acclaimed 1996 album Endtroducing..... and also the track "Chromium", produced by the artist Chrome and released on Platipus Records. See also Aurora, Texas, UFO incident References External links 1986 films 1980s Western (genre) science fiction films American Western (genre) science fiction films 1980s English-language films Films set in 1897 Films set in Texas Films shot in Dallas New World Pictures films Films directed by Jim McCullough Sr. 1980s American films