It’s not often that a movie like EXTRATERRESTRIAL comes around. They do pretty much everything right, especially in a horror movie. If more film makers believed in doing something original like this, the movie industry would probably be in much better shape. They should focus on originality rather than sequel or remake after sequel or remake. And yet, this film only received a limited release in the United States.
The story concerns a couple, April and Kyle. They are spending one last weekend together at April’s parents’ cabin. The cabin will soon be sold. April wants to tell Kyle that she got a job in New York. She believes this would probably be their last weekend together. Kyle plans to ask April to marry him. He also wants to invite three of their closest friends to join in on the celebration.
While there, they experience the crash of a flying saucer. After killing one of the aliens, all hell breaks loose. Apparently, there has been an ongoing agreement between the aliens and the United States government. It stems back from the 1947 flying saucer crash in Roswell, New Mexico. The agreement states that the aliens have free reign to abduct and conduct tests on as many humans and animals as they want. In return, the rest of the world is able to live their own lives normally. By killing the alien, April unknowingly breaks the agreement.
This movie also features so many nods to other great films. Notable examples include CLOVERFIELD (2008) and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968). It also nods to any of the “found footage” films that were so common years ago. There is even a little tribute to THE X-FILES at the very end. It was nice to see small parts for Emily Perkins. She is from the amazing GINGER SNAPS trilogy of movies. It was also nice to see Michael Ironside, who is in STARSHIP TROOPERS. He likes to grow pot and monitor local UFO activity.
Also along for the ride is Jesse Moss, playing Seth, who turns out to be almost as big of an asshole as his character of Chad was in 2010’s TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL. He does get his though in this film by not only getting his arm ripped off but also getting an anal probe, which ultimately kills him.
This movie is intense and genuinely scary at times and I strongly recommend watching it in the dark. It is very dark and does not have a happy ending. I have two disappointments. I would’ve liked to have seen Michael Ironside’s character of Travis have a more extensive altercation with the aliens. Additionally, I would’ve liked to have seen Sheriff Murphy’s storyline play out more than it did. It is suggested that Murphy’s girlfriend had been abducted years ago, never to be seen again. His death, in my opinion, happened too soon, and he should’ve been reunited with her, even if only briefly, before meeting his grisly demise.
Director Colin Minihan deserves praise. He created an original horror movie that is actually scary. It keeps you on the edge of your seat at times. The aliens, though realized mostly in CGI, are done in such a way that they are believable and very creepy. The scenes on the flying saucer after April and Kyle are abducted are nightmare-inducing, comparable to the similar scene from the 1993 film FIRE IN THE SKY.
If you get a chance to see this masterpiece, then I highly recommend it. This is what film-making is all about! It pulls no punches and will truly make you wonder what truth is really out there! Don’t forget to read the other blogs in my BASEMENT BLU-RAY REVIEW series.
To buy the Blu-ray, click on the image below.
