FILM REVIEW: LIFEFORM (aka INVADER) (1996)

The Viking space capsule returns to Earth from its journey to Mars bringing with it something potentially dangerous in the film LIFEFORM (1996).  When the Viking lands within restricted military space Dr. Case Montgomery (Cotter Smith) brings in his most trusted colleagues Dr. Gracie Scott and NASA’s Michael Perkett (Deirdre O’Connell and Leland Oser, respectfully) to help him assess the authenticity of the capsule.  Just as Colonel Pratt (Robert Wisdom) and his men show up to take over the discovery, Montgomery and Scott learn that the capsule was carrying an alien creature that threatens the safety of them all and everyone on the planet.  The base is ordered quarantined and Montgomery & Scott have a limited time to find the alien and make sure it isn’t a threat to national security.  This is made more difficult as the alien is highly intelligent which makes finding it a problem especially when Colonel Pratt and his men have no idea the danger they have now find themselves in.

LIFEFORM is a fun science fiction film in the tradition of CREATURE (1985) and CRITTERS (1986) and the monster holds up fairly well even today.  Although it gets repetitive at sometimes and characters react in that “horror film” way, it’s charm is in the fact that it tries so hard to make the science in the film so believable.

The film is written and directed by Mark H. Baker and this is his sole directing credit although I am surprised that he didn’t continue to direct given that this wasn’t an entirely un-entertaining of a film.  

Film Review: KILLER MERMAID (2014)

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes but it’s a rare treat when it comes in the form of a mermaid or better known as a Nymph (2014) also known by its US title of Killer Mermaid (original title Mamula).  Kelly and Lucy (Kristina Klebe and Natalie Burn, respectfully) are two Americans on a Mediterranean vacation catching up with old friends when a trip to an abandoned military base turns deadly when they discover that someone is feeding a creature trapped in a well deep in the bowels of the structure. 

The closer they come to discovering the dark secrets that have been left hidden the more danger they find themselves in as Kelly and Lucy and her friends are picked off one by one not just by a deranged killer but also a creature that can lure men to their deaths while playing on their wildest fantasies.

Despite having a very predictable story structure there is great millage that comes from the exotic local and the actual location itself is rich with atmosphere and production value.  What could have easily been a derivative killer monster movie is something a bit more especially when adding in local legends and background in Nazi Germany (they always make for good villains).

Mina Sablic is the Creature otherwise known as a mermaid and she is represented in a very traditional way especially as a siren to call men to their dooms and to change into a deadly creature that devours them as well.  The only problem is that the CGI for the film is sub-par and laughable in many parts.  The first two-thirds do a good job of building up the film which is then rendered laughable by the CGI effects.  This aspect of the film will ruin it for most as most horror fans have grown tired of the bad CGI in films and therefore this film will be easily forgotten as well.

Film Review: INDIGENOUS (2014)

I generally love a good monster movie and even when it’s a clichéd premise in which tourists go into a house, forest, place, etc. that they shouldn’t have (and were warned against) and encounter a creature that picks them off one by one for no real good reason other than they stepped into the wrong place at the wrong time, I can still generally enjoy and be entertained.  This is the entire premise of Indigenous (2014) which finds some Americans in Panama on vacation to enjoy the beach and sun but when a local legend peaks their curiosity to a forbidden waterfall they set out into the jungle to see for themselves. 

It’s not long before their guide is abducted by something from the jungle leaving the Americans without a way out.  Lost and alone they soon discover that their paradise has turned to a nightmare as they are hunted one by one by something in the dark that can hide behind every shadow and every fallen tree.

The film is extremely well done with a very capable cast but unfortunately there is nothing original or interesting in the film which is problem considering how much work went into pulling off a production which such high production values.  The third act does take some interesting and original turns especially when it wants to be relevant to our growing obsession with social media but I kind of wished that it had more of these types of ideas earlier in the first two-thirds of the film, which is a by-the-numbers monster film.

The makeup FX are pretty good but unfortunately don’t do much for crafting a satisfactory monster which is too human-like especially when it could’ve been something more special considering the exotic location.  Overall, the film is entertaining but not one you’ll bother to remember in the long run.

Film Review: MOSQUITO (1995)

Strange things can happen in a giant monster film of which the Gunnar Hansen starring film Mosquito (1995) is but one.  An alien craft crash lands in the swarp and a horde of mosquitos feast on the alien body that has fallen out of the craft.  Feasting on alien blood causes the mosquitoes to grow enormous and their appetites along with it as they kill everything in their paths.  Earl (Hansen), his brother Junior and cousin Rex (Mike Hard and Kenny Mugwump, respectfully) are bank robbers who find themselves trapped between freedom and the killer mosquitos.  If Earl and his partners want to survive the night they’ll have to team up with a couple of young forest rangers who have also managed to find themselves on the dinner menu. 

This is a classic big bug movie in which a lot of people die and the practical makeup effects outnumber the CGI ones.  This is a very old school style of film and with Hansen at the helm I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Now, the giant mosquitoes are never convincing but boy is the movie fun in a retro ‘90s creature feature kind of way.

I also enjoy this film more than I probably should because I’m a fan of Hansen’s and as usual he always seems to have a fun time regardless of the overall quality of the film.  The film is the debut feature from director Gary Jones who would go on to other giant creature features Spiders (2000) and Crocodile 2: Death Swamp (2002).  Neither of those are nearly as fun as this one.