Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jordana Brewster | ... | Delilah Profitt | |
Clea DuVall | ... | Stokely 'Stokes' Mitchell | |
Laura Harris | ... | Marybeth Louise Hutchinson | |
Josh Hartnett | ... | Zeke Tyler | |
Shawn Hatosy | ... | Stan Rosado | |
Salma Hayek | ... | Nurse Rosa Harper | |
Famke Janssen | ... | Miss Elizabeth Burke | |
Piper Laurie | ... | Mrs. Karen Olson | |
Christopher McDonald | ... | Mr. Frank Connor (as Chris McDonald) | |
Bebe Neuwirth | ... | Principal Valerie Drake | |
Robert Patrick | ... | Coach Joe Willis | |
Usher | ... | Gabe Santora (as Usher Raymond) | |
Jon Stewart | ... | Prof. Edward Furlong | |
Daniel von Bargen | ... | Mr. John Tate | |
Elijah Wood | ... | Casey Connor |
On the Harrington High School in Ohio, the newcomer Marybeth Louise Hutchinson tries to befriend the outcast Stokely 'Stokes' Mitchell. The quarterback Stan Rosado quits the football team and breaks off with his girlfriend Delilah Profitt, who is the editor of the school newspaper and head cheerleader. Zeke Tyler, who is repeating the senior year and sells drugs to the other students, has an argument with his teacher Elizabeth Burke. When the bullied Casey Connor finds a weird being on the football field, he brings it to his Professor Edward Furlong that finds that the unknown specimen lives in the water and has the ability of replicating. Later, Delilah brings Casey, who is the photographer of the newspaper and has a crush on her, to the faculty room to snoop around and find any evidence for a story, they need to hide in a closet when Coach Joe Willis and the teacher Karen Olson arrive. Delilah and Casey witness the coach and the teacher attacking Nurse Rosa Harper and they stumble ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Of course the story told by this film (aliens land in small Mid-West town and start taking over the humans) is very familiar but it is still a great story and this film tells it as well as any of the others (and better than most). There is a lot of humour, many very good action scenes, and some really nail-biting suspense. But what really makes this film special are the main characters: a delightful group of funny and interesting students, who have to cope with the trials of high-school life as well as the demands of defending the Earth against an insidious alien invasion.
If you know the other films of Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn) you will find another film which displays the same wit and assured lightness of touch that makes this director's work such a pleasure.
Great Stuff!