Wink of an Eye (film)

Wink of an Eye is a 1969 science fiction television film, originally broadcast as an episode of the American anthology series NBC Saturday Night at the Movies. It was written by Gene L. Coon (under the pseudonym Lee Cronin) and directed by Günther von Fritsch.

The film centers on a group of aliens from a planet whose civilization is moving at an incredibly accelerated rate of time, rendering them invisible and intangible to normal humans. A nuclear accident on Earth provides them with the means to interact with the slower-moving human world, but their intentions are ambiguous.

The narrative explores themes of isolation, communication breakdown, and the potential dangers of unforeseen consequences resulting from scientific advancement. The aliens, while initially appearing benevolent and seeking to help Earth, are ultimately revealed to possess a more complex and potentially menacing agenda.

The film is notable for its innovative use of visual and sound effects to portray the aliens' accelerated existence and the difficulties faced by the protagonist, Dr. Thomas Kellog, in his attempts to understand and communicate with them. While not widely considered a classic of the science fiction genre, Wink of an Eye is remembered for its thought-provoking premise and its exploration of the challenges inherent in understanding alien cultures and perceptions of time.