Movie Review: Alien Abduction (2014)
I don't think the world has given
enough love to the found footage sub-genre of Horror films. A
sub-genre which I find highly enjoyable, as evidenced by some of my
past posts, Skew, Grave Encounters and V/H/S to name but a few and of
course, my number one horror film The Blair Witch Project.
The love for this sub-genre, sadly
died almost as quickly as it had emerged. From the seldom seen gems
like said Witch project to a barrage of low budget, sub-standard and
almost identical blunders, it could be easy to see why.
As I said though, every now and then
we find a film which not only reignites our love for a certain
sub-genre but reminds us why we ever loved it at all!
Alien Abduction follows the Morris
family whose autistic son Riley, is capturing the families camping
trip on film. Along with his Brother, Sister and parents the family
begin to fall foul to strange occurrences. Jumps, jumps and a few
more jumps along with the occasional “did I just see that” moment
keep things moving along very swimmingly. Some good characterisation
is built as the film plays out and the ever present Riley, does a
great job with the camera.
Riley's autism brilliantly lends
itself to a very plausible explanation for the continuous filming. An
aspect that a lot of found footage films glaze over with the time
honoured “People need to see” excuse but in reality, why is the
camera not the first thing to find itself flung to the floor as the
rational people run for safety?
The film obviously includes more than
that and when I say more, I really do mean it but I, as always do not
like to give anything away and that includes the very basic of basic!
Having read a few other reviews of
this film I was disappointed and somewhat surprised to learn that my
enthusiasm for this film was not shared by many, if any at all. What
some might call formulaic and predictable, I might call... well.
Formulaic and predicable but why is that necessarily a bad thing?
Sometimes when you watch a horror film or a sci-fi film or any film
for that matter it really shouldn't make any difference if you
predicted what was going to happen or who was going to bite the dust.
Relax, enjoy it, it's not a competition to see who is the best
wannabe Director. If you think you're that good, do it!
While the storyline is not the most
original, the film is full of little treats for the eyes, good acting
and a level of tension is generated that befits a film of this
subject matter. As the camera rolls and the story progresses, we lose
some of the tension but not to the point where we lose all interest.
I cant change anyone's opinion and I
don't try to, I simply put my own views on films across and if you
disagree, that's your opinion. Funny how that works hey? If you
haven't already seen this and you've just read my “review” to try
and influence your decision on whether to watch it or not, please do
but don't watch it expecting to see the greatest film ever made, or
even something to make your top 500. Instead watch it the way I watch
all films... Suspend all belief, have no expectations and just enjoy
it for what it is. A low budget but well made hand held film about
aliens. Alien it is not be but then again, how many films can claim
they've come anywhere close what is in my opinion the bar for the
sci-fi/horror genre?
Year Released: 2014
My Rating: 7
