Although they may have been usurped in popularity of late by superheroes, audiences have always had a fascination for all things alien.

One of most popular decades for all things alien was the eighties, that saw such classics as The Abyss, Starman, The Thing, Aliens, and of course E.T released.

This then, is a throwback to such films, as it features an elderly gentleman having a very close encounter of the alien kind.

He may well be 78-years-old, but Milton (Ben Kingsley) is still very much a concerned citizen of his local town. So much so that he can often be found at local town meetings, giving his views on what can be done to improve the town.

With his wife passed, and his two children grown up and living their own lives, Milton lives in a big house all on his own.

One day he’s disturbed by a large crashing sound, coming from his back garden, which he goes and investigates. To his surprise, a UFO has crash landed just outside, which he’s a bit miffed about more than anything, as its ruined his azaleas.

He decides to call 911, considering it an emergency of sorts, but he doesn’t get anywhere. So he leaves it, despite noticing a body outside too.

He returns to his garden in the cold light of day, and yes, there is a UFO there, and the alien now appears to be alive.

At first he tells one or two people on his travels, but they don’t appear to believe him.

The most pressing matter for him is however, what is he supposed to do with an alien in his life?

One of the best ways to describe director Marc Turtletaub’s feature is as a lo-fi cross between .E.T and fellow eighties hit Cocoon.

Despite its alien theme, it is very much a human film, featuring three characters in the latter stages of their lives. It’s almost as if the premise of it was what if it wasn’t Elliott that discovered E.T, but his grandparents?

To make sure that the alien isn’t really the focus of the film, it appears in a very generic shape – human-ish – and is totally mute and emotionless. The film then is essentially the reaction to it by the three elderly members of the community, which is where it gets its warmth and charm.

Oscar-winning Kingsley’s performance is very understated, featuring a very deadpan response to almost everything. It’s underlined by his character suffering from a possible oncoming mental illness, which just confirms his vulnerable state.

He is ably supported by Sandy (Harriet Harris) and Joyce (Jane Curtis), who discover the alien’s presence, and form an alliance to keep him safe.

It is not a big budgeted sci-fi epic, far from it, presented as it is as a more independent spirited, quirky affair. So much so that the alien’s ship looks like something Blue Peter knocked up with some tin foil, some plates and some sticky back plastic.

But that’s not the point.

It’s a film of awe and wonder, as these elder members of the community are re-introduced to the sensation of innocence, much like they would have experienced in their youths, as it comes full circle once more.

A beautifully crafted film, with a warm, retro glow about it, a wickedly dry sense of humour at times, with a subtle emotional pull that may well have you phoning home.