The Planet (2006) (V)

User Rating:

3.7/10   

Director:

Mark Stirton

Writer:

Mark Stirton (screenplay)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Save Our Souls

Plot:

The Planet concerns a group of shipwrecked mercenaries and their struggle for survival on an alien world. A world where death is only the beginning.

Plot Keywords:

The Planet

Cast

Mike Mitchell	...	Captain Morgan
Patrick Wight	...	McNeal
Scott Ironside	...	Vince
Shawn Paul Hastings	...	Leyton
Steve Tomas	...	Marsh
Tim Branston	...	Mitch
Ashley Branston	...	The Kid
Michael Grant Clark	...	Taylor
Graham Robertson	...	Williams
Colin Morrison	...	The Prisoner
Mark Wyness	...	Daak
Alexander Allan	...	Sandy
Nicky Fraser	...	Computer (voice)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

UK:71 min (DVD version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (MiniDV) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (original mix)

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

Stirton Productions

Trivia:

During filming two things were broken by the same person, one was Mike Mitchell's quad bike, the other was Mike Mitchell's toe. The producer and Taylor character, Michael G. Clark, crashed the quad bike by hitting the only mound of earth in the area. And Mike Mitchell broke his toe while kicking Taylor's stand in - a bag of soup tins.

The Thing 2?

WOW!! Talk about a film that divides the audience! This is a real love it or loath it kinda movie. Personally I really enjoyed it. I noticed that other reviews are comparing it to Pitch Black - this is kinda dumb as the only thing they have in common is SAND! People can be real stupid. No, this film is far more in common with The Thing (how people fail to notice is amazing - they even have the same basic music) Lots of Carpenter touches are there, blue collar heroes, sharp humor, endless rolling landscapes full of death and things not understood. Perhaps what stops this film being a real classic is it's deference to other Carpenter works. Not least Dark Star which it has something in common with. I'd be interested to know how much it REALLY cost? $8000? Is that even possible? Maybe it was based on a short film that cost $8000? But I did find myself strangely moved when the various space dudes died. They are so underplayed that it's like watching a documentary at times. Having said that the script is kinda clunky and only about half of them can act however and I'm not sure the big guy playing the Captain is one of them. But his gun is AWESOME!! Give it a chance, if you like early Carpenter you might fall for it, just don't expect 2001.