Alien Raiders (2008)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Ben Rock

Writers:

Julia Fair (screenplay)
David Simkins (written by)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

It's the end of yet another night at Hastings Supermarket, an idyllic family grocery store in Buck Lake...

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Blood | Mutilation | Alien Hunt | Sole Black Character Dies Cliche

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Carlos Bernard	...	Aaron Ritter
Mathew St. Patrick	...	Seth Steadman
Rockmond Dunbar	...	Kane
Courtney Ford	...	Sterling
Jeffrey Licon	...	Benny
Samantha Streets	...	Whitney
Derek Basco	...	Manny
Bonita Friedericy	...	Charlotte
Bryan Krasner	...	Moody
Keith Hudson	...	Chambers
Joel McCrary	...	Tarkey
Joseph Steven Yang	...	Ulrich
Philip Newby	...	Spooky
Tom Kiesche	...	Logan
Roberta Bassin	...	Boozy Woman / Marcy

Also Known As:

Inhuman (USA) (working title)
Supermarket (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for bloody violence, disturbing images and language.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Australia:MA (2008) | USA:R | UK:15 | Norway:15 (TV rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Inglewood, California, USA

Company:

Flame Ventures

Trivia:

None of the products in the supermarket have real names although many familiar-looking items appear. For instance, "Sealtest Ice Cream" is spelled "Seeltest."

Sci Fi Channel Should Take Notes

This movie is definitely not going to win any awards. It's also not going to make any top 10 lists at the end of the year. It won't even make cult status.

What it will do is entertain you & keep you on the edge of your seat.

The premise is simple. A group of independent "alien hunters" have descended on a small town, and specifically a grocery store where they seem to have found the original infection. Do they do the best job securing the location?? No. Do they seem dis organized, and nervous?? Yes. But I think that adds to the plot. These are not trained police officers, or ex military men. They are regular Joe's that have found something that needs to be stopped.

What's most impressive is the way the tension is built throughout the film. You feel the same claustrophobic tension that you get in Splinter, and there's a similar feeling to the great Spanish film "rec" This movie isn't quite as good in quality as those two movies, but there's a good mix of "what the heck is going on" and "how is this whole thing going to end."

There are very limited special effects in this movie, and when used they add to the story, they don't take away. There's almost no CGI, and that's a good thing. The Sci Fi channel could really learn something about creating movies like this, where you have alien invasions without using incredibly cheap and campy CGI, just a little make up, and some cool camera tricks and hold back the pay off till the last minute. It's an easy formula that's been missing from science fiction films for quite some time. Directors have fallen in love with being able to create big creatures, but don't know how to build tension.

Now, the movie does have plot wholes, and relies on some clichés. The one cop that happens to be a hostage negotiator from "the big city." The ending isn't as surprising as they want it to be. Still, for a direct to DVD movie, this is about as good as it gets.

It's science fiction, so suspend disbelief a bit, and imagine how you would react if you were in the characters shoes. It's an enjoyable little trip.