Justice League: Warworld

Director - Jeff Wamester (Legion of Super-Heroes, Green Lantern: Beware My Power)

Starring - Jensen Ackles (The Boys, Supernatural), Ike Amadi (Primal, Trollhunters: Defenders of Acadia), and Troy Baker (Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Last of Us)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

While most of the movie world is busy arguing over the DC cinematic universe and the future that James Gunn has in store for us, I have been waiting on the DC animated movies to hit store shelves. While a few the last year or so were a but underwhelming, I still thoroughly enjoy them. A few weeks ago I was sent Justice League: Warworld for review. This was a title I was very unfamiliar with but a quick google opened me up to a world of characters and storylines I was oblivious about. Like always I want to thank WB and DC for sending this one over for review. 

    The film follows Diana Prince, Bruce Wayne, and Clark Kent who find themselves in various tales without their memories or how they got there. However, their quick wit and seeing familiar faces awakens some memories. Bruce Wayne, the world’s greatest detective, starts putting all the pieces together when he discovers he is on Warworld and Martian Manhunter is being imprisoned. Mongul is using his psychotic ability to control the entire plant but Lobo betrays him wanting control of the planet himself. While Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman is unconscious, they are saved by Harbinger who warns them of the impending Crisis. 

      Warworld is easily one of the best DC animated films I’ve reviewed in the last year or two. There is a few others that I enjoyed more than this one but it’s near the top in my honest opinion. It’s a story that we will never seen get a live action adaptation and I’m ok with that because this animated adaptation works. I know this review is going to catch hell in the comment sections of various social media platforms once this goes live because it’s not horror and so on but I don’t care. It was enjoyable and I look forward to any other DC animated film that is brought our way. The voice acting in this is fantastic. Jensen Ackles is the voice of Bruce Wayne and once again makes fan wish someone would hire him to don the cowl. He does a phenomenal job as the caped crusader and I look forward to other animated adventures with him cast. The rest of the voice casting is fantastic as well but Ackles is the star of the show in my opinion. The story for this one makes you think this is a series of shorts or an anthology but as each segments end we start to see the characters begin to remember each other. It’s the slow progression with each segment that starts to build the overall story. It was very effective and seeing a sci-fi noir, a sword and sandal fantasy film, and a classic western in the in the DC universe was very enjoyable. Finally, I loved the animation style. This is the type of animation that I truly enjoy. It’s more of a traditional approach that brought me into the DC animated universe to begin with. I don’t mind when they take on other styles of animation but this one is more my speed. Overall, Warworld is not the best of the animated DC films but it is one of the better ones. I loved the story and voice acting along with the return to the traditional animation style. I highly recommend this one.

Invaders from Mars

Director - William Cameron Menzies (The Spider, The Narrow Margin)

Starring - Helena Carter (The Pathfinder, The Golden Hawk), Arthur Franz (Sisters of Death, The Six Million Dollar Man), and Jimmy Hunt (Invaders from Mars (86), Fireside Theatre)

Release Date - 1953

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "From out of space... came hordes of green monsters!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love modern technology and how society has advanced over the last few decades. I was born in the mid 80s and grew up through the 90s. Movie fans refer to this time as the video store age. Honestly, I enjoyed it and often reminisce about visiting my local ma and pop video store, Dewey’s Video, almost daily to rent some tapes and video games. It was a huge part of my childhood and many of my favorite memories were centered around this time in my life. However, if I could travel back in time I would skip that altogether and visit the drive-in era of movie history. I couldn’t imagine living during this time when movies were centered around space invaders, prehistoric beasts, and other atom age monsters. I love the sci-fi and horror films that was often paired together during this time and was made from the 50s to the mid-70s. I love the cheese and the campy feel of these films. Several weeks back I was sent the new UHD release of the classic sci-fi film Invaders from Mars. This is one of those films that I highly admire and respect. Not only is it a fantastic film as it is and a staple of the drive-in era but it also paved the way for one of my favorite films of all time which is Tobe Hooper’s Invaders from Mars. I was excited to say the least to review this classic in 4K. I want to thank Ignite Films for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a little boy who is very passionate about the stars and outer space when he spots something falling from the sky on a clear night. The lands in the sand dunes behind his home and he tells his father about it. His father goes to investigate and returns much later with a completely different personality. He’s verbally and physically abusive to his son and wife. Over time the boy realizes that his father is being controlled by something sinister from another world and before long other important figures from the community. When his mother becomes controlled he is forced turn to his friend who is a local astronomer and a doctor from the health department to warn the military of an alien invasion. 

      Invaders from Mars is a classic 1950s sci-fi and horror mashup that has been seen by generations. The Tobe Hooper remake may be one of my favorite films of all time but I have enough sense to know how important the original is. The original 1953 film is one I’ve seen several times but watching it in 4K is the best way to see it. My first viewing of the film was on cable several times and during my elementary school days before I snagged a cheap VHS copy from a yard sale. My previous viewings were always less than perfect releases of the film but watching it in 4K is like watching the film for the first time. The acting in this one is what you would expect from films of this time. When I talk about films from this time I often want to compare them to shows like The Andy Griffith Show and The Beverly Hillbillies. The cast hams it up during most of the scenes and you get the overdramatic gasps, group laughter when something silly is said, and the dramatic screams that have become a parody of the genre in recent decades. I really like the cast but the acting of the time is nothing like what you see in modern films. The story for this one is nothing we really haven’t seen before but it is a bit more detailed than other invasion films of the time. We have a boy who witnesses a ship crash to Earth and immediately started taking control of key political and military figures. This is a simple film but the detail they pumped into this simple story makes it work. Most characters have back stories that fit the plot, the locations in the film are important and once again fit the plot, and the film makes great use of it’s run time. Finally, the film has some classic camera tricks and practical effects of the time but this one doesn’t have any real iconic scenes aside from the invaders carrying the boy. They don’t look that impressive and is easily the worst part of the film in my opinion. Overall, Invaders from Mars is a must see for fans of classic sci-fi and horror films. It’s an iconic title that deserves everyone’s attention. The release from Ignite Films looks fantastic and is the recommended way to see the film especially if it’s your first time. Check it out

Erecting a Monster 2: Bride of the Monster

Director - Jon Devlin (The Missing Left Sock, Pestilence in Silence)

Starring - Jon Devlin, Steve Johnson (Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse, The Gorda), and Angelica Lee

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Prepare for the second cuming"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When it comes to horror I tend to prefer the non-traditional films. I grew up on the films of Troma and movies like Brain Donors, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Night of the Lepus, and so on. I have a strange and unusual taste in film and I’m always on the hunt for more odd horror films to watch and review. A few years ago actor and director Jon Devlin hit me up with a film that he not only directed but starred in. The film, Erecting a Monster, is an unforgettable horror comedy about male enhancement gone wrong. This is the kind of movie that I absolutely live for. I knew other genre fans enjoyed it as well but I didn’t realize the film had the following that it did until I posted about it on social media. Indie genre fans loved this short so it was only a matter of time before Devlin announced the sequel Erecting a Monster 2: Bride of the Monster. He reached out to me sometime back and asked if I wanted to review it. Of course I did so he sent over a copy for me to check out. I want to thank Jon for sending this one over for me to see! 

      The film picks up after the events of the first film where Victor (Devlin) has to stop his possessed penis before more people die thanks to his prick.

      When you toss in a film like Erecting a Monster 2: Bride of the Monster you don’t expect to find a heartwarming story or performances that brings the viewers to tears. However, you expect a lot of crude humor that only the Beavis and Butthead generation can appreciate and lots of blood. This film is great continuation of the first but I’m still disappointed that we don’t have a feature length film with this absurd story. The acting in this one is solid. Devlin is great behind the camera but he’s a natural in front of the camera. He delivers a great performance with the rest of his co-stars. The cast is small but no one is a weak link. They all work very well together and the character are very well written even though it’s a short. The story for this one is very enjoyable but could be so much more. I know there is a lot to making a movie and you need more than just an idea to make it happen. It’s a lot of hard work, dedication, patience, and money. I truly understand that but I hate how awesome this story is and how we are only given shorts. I think this particular story has the potential to spawn a seriously gory and strange feature length film. With that being said, the short is a lot of fun but it doesn’t have a lot of meat on the bone so to speak. Finally, the film has some blood and simple prosthetics but the effects are a representation of the film’s budget. I enjoyed them but I know with the skill this film has behind the camera that they could have killed it if they had the budget. Overall, Erecting a Monster 2 is another fantastic short from filmmaker Jon Devlin. I seriously hope we get another film in this saga or he is able to pool some resources to make a feature. Regardless, everyone needs to see this one!

McBain

Director - James Glickenhaus (Timemaster, Slaughter of the Innocents)

Starring - Christopher Walken (Hairspray, The Jungle Book), Maria Conchita Alonso (The Running Man, Predator 2), and Michael Joseph DeSare 

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Action

Tagline - "It takes a killer to stop the killing"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror and exploitation may be my bread and butter but straight to video action films of the 80s and early 90s are what got me on my reviewing journey. My dad was was a huge western fan but we didn’t have a western channel where I grew up. Instead, he would watch whatever the premium channels like Cinemax and HBO had to offer. This was where I was introduced to these wild action flicks. I only fueled that fire when I started renting tapes from my local video store. I still look forward to watching the millions of cheap action flicks that was released during this time and has relatively been lost to time. A few weeks back my friends over a Synapse Films sent over the 1991 action thriller McBain starring the unforgettable Christopher Walken. I had never heard of this one so I was fucking excited to finally check it out. I want to thank Synapse Films and MVD, who is handing the physical release, for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a Vietnam vet who has transitioned to civilian life as an iron worker when he is contacted by the sister of a Columbian freedom fighter that lost his life trying to overthrow the Columbian government. She convinces him to avenge her brothers death so he embarks on a mission to recruit hos old squad and steal money from drug dealers to fund his mission to Columbia. Once there his squad works together to bring peace to Columbia which is controlled by El Presidente and the cartel. 

      McBain is one of those easily forgettable action flicks that I grew up loving. It’s not the best but it is enjoyable if those are your type of films. Hell, I wish this was one I had seen prior to now because I know it would be one I would have revisited like all the others from my childhood. The casting in this one is very unexpected but I did enjoy it. I was born in the mid-80s so I lived through the video store age and grew up in the 90s. Christopher Walken was a part of my childhood thanks to The Prophecy and Joe Dirt. While most people remember him for his roles in The Dead Zone, Deer Hunter, and Batman Returns, I grew up watching The Prophecy and Joe Dirt with the latter being a film I often revisited in my youth. It’s a bit strange seeing him act and not carry the same mannerisms and dialogue delivery that I was used to. Honestly, I really enjoyed seeing him actually get into character and not portray the “image” that most associate with him. The supporting cast is great in my opinion. In fact, their characters and performances were a little better than Walken’s. There was times where it felt like Walken was disassociated from the film and was just saying his lines on co-pilot while his co-stars were fully invested in the scene. It does make them uneven but it brings that “so bad it’s good” charm that I like about this type of action films. The story for this one kind of felt like a rejected A-Team episode that repurposed for a direct to video release. It asks a lot of the viewer to go along with it but some aspects are very cleverly written. Why a group of Vietnam veterans would team up to try and crush a corrupt government from a third world nation is beyond me but I did like the part where they raised the money to make the trip there and some tie backs to the Vietnam war that was enjoyable. However, the film skips on the characters and giving them different personalities. Instead, they are all “yes, sir” type men with no definable or memorable personalities. Finally, the film has a lot of deaths but they don’t really have the blood or gore you would expect. We have those campy deaths where people go stiff and fall after being shot and some decent sized explosions. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of original deaths and fighting but that’s something to expect with a film like this. Overall, McBain is another generic action flick that I actually enjoyed. This is one of those films you can toss in if you’ve been drinking or popped an edible. It’s not good but it’s fun which is all you can ask for from a movie. Snag it on blu from Synapse Films.

The Witches Mountain

Director - Raul Artigot (Bajo en Nicotina, Cabo de Vara)

Starring - Patty Shepard (Rest in Pieces, My Dear Killer), Cihangir Gaffari (Bloodsport, Hundra), and Monica Randall (Stay as You Are, Cross of the Devil)

Release Date - 1973

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a horror fan for as long as I can remember.  I was obsessed with zombie films as a kid when I was first introduced to Tom Savini's remake of Night of the Living Dead.  From there I dived deep into the sub-genre before migrating to slashers and other genre films.  While I'll always have a soft spot for slashers and zombie flicks I still find myself disappointed by the lack of witch films.  Several weeks back Mondo Macabro released the 1973 Spanish horror film The Witches Mountain on blu.  I was lucky enough to get a copy of this one for review.  Like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.

     The film follows a photojournalist who is traveling through the beautiful Spanish countryside where he crosses paths with a beautiful woman. She agrees and they visit a secluded castle high in the mountains but when he hears strange sounds and chanting he suspects that the local lore surrounding the mountain being inhabited by witches may be true. 

      I know The Witches Mountain is not going to be a film that genre fans flock to store shelves to snag a copy to add to their collections but serious genre collectors will want to check it out. It’s a decent enough folk horror flick that may not be the most memorable film I’ve seen but it was entertaining especially for a first time watch. The acting in this one is solid but no one is winning any awards. The characters are fairly generic in an early 70s genre film kind of way. The cast is fairly small but everyone did their part and pulled it off. I was a little disappointed that our two leads didn’t have personalities that would stand out. Their performances are decent enough but the characters are easily forgettable and blend into the background at times. The story for this one doesn’t really build up to an atmospheric and suspenseful horror film with witches and Satanic imagery like you would expect. I was really looking forward to seeing a coven of wood witches resort to pagan rituals. We don’t really get that and when you mix that with the slow burn that the film is you get something that will really push the patience of the viewer. I enjoyed it for what it was but I don’t see myself revisiting it anytime soon. Finally, the film relies on the location, atmosphere, and story to drive the fear home to the viewer. We don’t really get any memorable effects or movie magic to enjoy which is a damn shame. I would have loved an early 70s witch film with some blood and gore. Overall, The Witches Mountain is not the definitive horror film about witches. Hell, it’s not even that memorable of a Spanish horror film but it is solid for a first time watch. Collectors will want to add this Mondo Macabro release to their collection but remember that it is far from perfect.

Dr. Caligari

Director - Stephen Sayadian (Silk Stalkings)

Starring - Madeleine Reynal (Space Mutiny), Fox Harris (Repo Man, Forbidden World), and Laura Albert (Bloodstone, The Unnamable)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Comedy/Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "the MAD doctor is in"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mondo Macabro is one of those labels that brings us films that we would never get the chance to see if it wasn’t for them. Hell, a good portion of the films they release are completely unknown to myself and most of my circles of friends. While I’m always excited to check out these odd and obscure films I will be completely transparent with everyone that takes the time to read my reviews. Sometimes I review a Mondo Macabro film that I just don’t like. They are a company that I enjoy watching and collecting but their films or either loved or disliked. There is no in-between. Sometime back I was sent a few MM released and one of them was Dr. Caligari. This is one I had seen bits and pieces of growing up but never actually sat down to watch the whole film. I’m glad Mondo Macabro was kind enough to send it over because I fucking loved it. I want to take a second to thank MM for hooking me up! 

      The film follows a female doctor who is a descendent of the original Dr. Caligari. She is employed at a mental asylum and has been conducting experiments on the patients there. However, it’s not innocent experiments that she is conducting. Her sexually charged research has her working on a variety of patients from serial killing cannibals to housewives with libido issues. 

      Dr. Caligari is a loose sequel to the classic silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. While both films are memorable they are memorable for very different reasons. The original film is known the world over for it’s beautiful imagery and tone while the sequel has just as memorable visuals but the sexual humor and colorful characters makes the follow up stand out. The acting in this one absolutely amazed me. While the film does focus on sexuality and perversion, it does give viewers some of the most memorable characters I’ve witnessed. I would be here all day if I was to pick apart the cast because everyone delivered amazing performances. However, I will take a moment to mention John Durbin’s performance. His character had me laughing so fucking hard. This is easily my favorite performance of his and the film wouldn’t be nearly as funny if someone else was cast in that role. The story for this one is very different than the original while paying tribute to the film that was released 60 plus years before it. While imagery is still an important part of the film we follow a story that doesn’t shy away from laughs or the sleazy side of cinema which is to be expected when it was produced by the same folks behind Café Flesh. The film’s focus is Dr. Caligari and how she experiments on the deranged in sexual and perverse ways. You would think this set up would wear thin as the film progresses but the new wave style sets and wardrobe mixed with the colorful characters carries this simple story further than it should have. Finally, the film has plenty of practical effects and beautiful set designs but those of you looking for blood and gore will be very disappointed. While there is blood it is not the focal point of the film. In fact, it happens in passing with no real time spent on it. We do get some wild scenes with some enjoyable practical effects and visuals but that is the extent of it. Overall, Dr. Caligari is nothing like the original film but I believe that is a good thing. It pays tribute to a historical film while making a name for itself. It’s a must see cult film that I highly recommend snagging on blu from Mondo Macabro. Check it out.

Sound of Summer

Director - Guy (Difficulty Breathing, The Rope Maiden)

Starring - Shinya Hankawa, Kaori Hoshino, and Kiyomi Kametani 

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been lucky enough to review Unearthed Film’s releases for several years now. While I don’t always enjoy the films sent my way for review I still respect the absolute legend that is Stephen Biro. He brings movies that only a specific set of genre fans want to the masses allowing many to experience films they normally would miss out on. While I love seeing these unusual and often overlooked films get a physical release from a major label, I would be lying if I said I loved them all. Some of the films just don’t have enough to hold my attention. A year or so ago Unearthed started releasing some CatIII and pinku films on blu. I was extremely interested in these films as they are both recent interests of mine after I started branching out to international cinema. Several weeks back Unearthed released the 2022 Japanese film The Sound of Summer from filmmaker Guy. The trailer really pulled me in so I reached out to MVD, who was handling the release for UF, and they were kind enough to send a copy my way. I want to thank MVD and Unearthed Films for sending this one over. 

      The film follows two female shop clerks who find themselves working through the unbearable heat of summer. To make matters worse, the cicadas are hatching and with it comes their unbearable screeching. One of the locals is obsessed with the bug and often collects them in one of his many enclosures which he brings with him as he walks around town. One of the women starts to have episodes where her skin would rash up and itch. Before long she is convinced that the Cicada Man has planted cicada eggs in her and they are eating her from the inside out. As the heat bears down during the long summer days she finds her mental health declining resulting in paranoia, hallucinations, and body mutilation. 

      The Sound of Summer made me think I was getting into a brutal and gory torture film that followed a killer known as the Cicada Man. Instead, what we get is a film about a woman struggling with mental illness during the hot days of summer in Japan. I wanted to loved this one but as much as I love and respect Biro I have to be honest with anyone reading this. The Sound of Summer is extremely… dull. The acting in this one is one of the better aspects of the film. The characters are very generic but the cast does a fantastic job with the characters they were cast to portray. While the film didn't really pull me in I did find myself captivated in a few scenes by the cast and how into the scene they were. With that being said, the cast is fairly small and we don't have a lot of scenes with memorable performances. The story for this one is a mix between Japanese underground and Cronenberg. We follow a woman who has a dislike for the cicadas who have awaken after their 17 year hibernation which coincides with the Cicada Man who is roaming around collecting his little friends to put in boxes. This arrival of the cicadas awakens a fear inside her and before long she claws her body apart to remove cicadas that she thinks are in her. If the film would have relied more on her mental disability and the body mutilation then it could have been interesting enough. However, the film is a bit dull as it is.  Finally, the film has a lot of practical effects.  The make-up effects work which makes some of the later scenes even more gruesome but the lack of story makes the effects feel underwhelming.  Overall, The Sound of Summer could have been something gruesome and entertaining but the story drops the ball.  It looks good and I like the cast but the film comes up short.  I can recommend at least a dozen more Unearthed releases to check out instead of this one.  

CarousH3LL

Director - Steve Rudzinski (Shingles: The Movie, A Meowy Halloween)

Starring - Steve Rimpici (CarousHELL, A Meowy Christmas Vacation), Autumn Ivy (Zoomed, Amityville Christmas Vacation), and B. Barnabei (The Survivors, A Meowy Christmas)

Release Date-  2023

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Indie filmmaker Steve Rudzinski has achieved so much during his career. He is the first Top Male Thirst Trap of Pittsburgh and lifetime achievement winner from Grossfest. While those are notable awards, he is mostly known for directing several films that has received positive reviews from the prestigious horror site, Horror Society. I’ve reviewed most, if not all, of his feature films and a couple of his shorts. I’ve spent a lot of time watching and writing reviews for his films and I can safely say that Steve is among one of my favorite indie filmmakers. He never submits to trends and makes the movies that he wants to see. A few years back Steve directed and cameoed in one of his most popular films. The comedy slasher CarousHELL seemed to come out of nowhere and quickly gained a following among horror fans. Soon a sequel was greenlit and due to the popularity of both films a third was announced. The first is easily my favorite film of the trilogy but I absolutely love how both sequels go a completely different direction than fans expected. I quickly agreed to watch CarousH3LL when Steve asked me to review it. However, I wasn’t so fast to actually review it. I want to thank Steve for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check it out and I’m sorry it took so long to get this up. 

      The film once again follows Duke, the living carousel unicorn from the first two films, who has tried to be a better person after discovering he was a father. He wants to be the father his son deserves but one of his victims, Joe (Rudzinski), has his eye (that’s a pun for those that have seen the film) on revenge. Also standing his Duke’s way of being a better person is another living carousel animal, a rabbit named Usagi who is stealing the power from other inanimate objects to make herself stronger to bring Duke down. 

      When Steve started the CarousHELL trilogy I was expecting him to keep turning out slashers that had a lot of humor and colorful characters. Honestly, the first film in the trilogy may not be my favorite Rudzinski film but it is among one of my favorite indie slashers of recent years. While this trilogy is no Captain Z, I still enjoy them and love seeing how each story progressively builds up on the last while taking the viewer on an adventure they were not expecting. CarousH3LL is a worthy follow up to the first two films and we still have more room to further the story for fans. The acting in this one is easily my favorite of the trilogy. I have nothing but good things to say about this cast but any film that features a three way with Jessa Flux, a carousel bunny, and a random guy gets my full attention. This scene was funny as fuck and I loved how into it Flux was. We also get great performances from Rudzinski himself, some professional wrestlers, and a bevy of voice actors. Honestly, this film has a little bit of everything and the cast represents that. I seriously loved the people involved here. The story for this one follows down the same path set forth in the second film. It completely abandons the slasher premise of the first film and we get a bigger look at inanimate objects coming to life, secret government agencies, pissed off Mascots, and much more. I found myself laughing a lot more than I expected but I was a bit disappointed in the story he created around the Mascot group. I could seriously see myself getting sucked in by a film completely centered around them and their dwindling numbers. With that being said, I still enjoyed CarousH3ll and the direction it took. We get a lot of character development, lore, and comedy tossed into a relatively short run time of a little over an hour. Finally, the film has a lot of different effects to enjoy. We get some classic gags like the cut knife “stabbing” people, practical effects, and classic voice acting. The film also has some visual effects that stand out but doesn’t bother me as much as it normally does. Maybe because the film was not meant to be taken so seriously. Regardless, the visuals were not as much of a sore spot as normal. Overall, CarousH3LL is another enjoyable piece of cinema from a filmmaker that makes the type of films that he wants to watch himself. He doesn’t cave in to fads or trends which is refreshing as a genre fan. I highly recommend checking out this film along with its two predecessors especially if you want to see Jessa Flux in a threesome with a plastic rabbit.

Alien Planet

Director - Alan Maxson (Christmas with Cookie, Patina)

Starring - Alexandra Bokova (Figure it Out, Mermaid Down), Hunter C. Smith (Ike Boys, Naruto: Climbing Silver), and Naiia Lajoie (The Gingerweed Man, Skymed)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      As a millennial I grew up during the height of the video store age.  I didn't have a big box store near me but I did have two ma and pop video stores that I would frequent quite often.  While I was always open to snagging the newest big budget release that all my friends were going to be talking about in school the next day.  However, I couldn't skip on the direct to video horror and sci-fi titles that lined the shelves in Dewey's Video.  These moments is what shaped my taste in films and when a movie is sent over for review that reminds me of those films then I have to see them.  Several weeks back I was asked to review the sci-fi action film Alien Planet.  The trailer sold me on it and I greedily accepted the chance to check it out.  I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun.

     The film follows two lizard like race of humanoids that have been at war with one another with generations.   The war has depleted their world's resources with water almost non-existent.  We follow a female who finds herself alone when her husband is killed by one of their rivals forcing her to find the last bit of water that she can while surviving the harsh climate of her planet and those that wish to kill her.

      I went into Alien Planet knowing nothing about it aside from what the trailer showed me. It’s not often I get a practical effects filled sci-fi adventure film and when I do I seriously find myself enthralled with them. Alien Planet didn’t really have the story that pulled me in like I would have liked but the effects, set pieces, location, and acting was enough to hold my attention. While it was far from perfect it was better than most of the other no budget sci-fi films I’ve reviewed in the past. The acting in this one is solid. I did struggle at times keeping the characters apart due to their similar prosthetics and make-up effects but once the film establishes itself I did find myself impressed by how great the cast was and how they were able to stay in character during what I could only assume were far from perfect filming conditions. I couldn’t imagine filming those action scenes in what looked like a hot and humid location with all that make-up. The cast was truly dedicated to the film and it shows. The story for this one didn’t really catch my imagination like it could have. In fact, I found myself wishing I was watching the 1985 sci-fi action flick Enemy Mine which followed a similar story where a group of waring humanoids have to work together to survive.  I grew up watching Enemy Mine and I loved that this indie sci-fi flick reminded me of that classic sci-fi flick.  With that being said, while the practical effects and make-up were a highlight of the film, the story is stretched a bit thin.  While I did enjoy what it brought viewers I did find it to be a bit too long and long winded.  Some of the run time should have been trimmed from this one to make it flow a little better.  Finally, the film is a showcase of practical effects and how far make-up effects can be pushed even on a budget.  We get some blood, a few deaths but the highlight of the film is the lizard-like humanoids that the film follows.  They look great and you can still see the actor's emotions underneath.  Overall, Alien Planet is not a ground breaking sci-fi flick but it is absolutely phenomenal considering the budget.  I highly recommend it.