When Anna, a Viennese photographer and video artist, wakes up one morning she hears a radio broadcast about an invasion by the alien Hyksos, ‘Invisible Adversaries’ who insinuate themselves into humans and encourage aggression and destruction. But when Anna sets about collecting evidence of their existence, she's not only contradicted at every turn by her “rational” male lover, but begins to realise that man's monstrosity is already everywhere and these body snatchers have little to do. Using a fast-moving variety of techniques – film, video, still photography, dance, performance art, montage – Valie Export demonstrates the meanings and interventions of the media in our lives while the sci-fi narrative becomes a surreal vehicle for her discussion of sexual and national politics. 

Photo, film-in-film, video. I wanted to use them to express the dualism which is always in this film. I am female, I look in the mirror and see my role but I don't want to do it any more… I used all these methods to make the viewer identify rather than just be a voyeur.

– Valie Export

Of all the independent features made by women, it seems to me that ‘Invisible Adversaries’ has the most chance of success with a wide audience. Packed with more changes and visual brilliance than a three-­ring circus, it is funny, violent, sexual... ‘Invisible Adversaries’ is slightly over-long. I don't really care. It makes you reconsider what you and everyone else is doing – in life and in art.

– Amy Taubin, Soho Weekly News

'Invisible Adversaries’ is an extremely cranky film, unable to resist showing just how impossible people can be, particularly in a crisis that ought to unite them. Its humour is very noir, very absurdist.

– Gary Indiana, On Film

The exhilaration felt from watching ‘Invisible Adversaries’ might be compared with the Hyksos' highly contagious radiations, and appears to affect the powers of thought or expression.

– Don Ranvaud, Monthly Film Bulletin

An extraordinary film... the best thing about it is that it's desperate and head-bangingly funny.

– Jo Camino, City Limits

Description source: Circles Catalogue (circa 1983). Compiled by Helen MacKintosh and Margaret Gillan. Edited by Felicity Sparrow.