SomeoneScreamers: The Hunting
October 9th 2009 10:13
Premise: Following on from the original Screamers, a group of army-type people must return to Sirius 6B to investigate a distress beacon. They get there and start dying. cough *Aliens* cough.
To be honest, I haven't seen the original Screamers in many years, but from memory it is one of the most frightening experiences of my life. Well, it might have something to do with the fact that it was one of the first horror movies I ever saw, or the fact I have been intentionally avoiding it for fear of ruining a cherished childhood memory... So, the sequel could not possibly live up to my unreasonable expectations.
Needless to say, it didn't.
However, don't let me put you off. For a straight-to-DVD affair, this movie is surprisingly good.
Acting: While nothing spectacular, is not as abysmal as I expected. Lance Henriksen, always a pleasure to watch, is fun to watch for the 5 minutes he is in the film. No terrible performances come to mind, which is a heck of a lot better than I was expecting.
Effects: The highlight of the movie. The CGI'd screamers leaping out of the ground and getting shot down got a little repetitive in parts, but other than that the CGI was quite good. The best part of the movie though was the make-up, from released entrails to spikes exploding out of chests. There were some deliciously juicy kills, and my thirst for blood was definitely sated.
Script: Easily the worst part of this movie... there was not one single original thought, from start to finish. The Hunting borrows heavily from Aliens, and what it doesn't steal from Cameron it steals from elsewhere. Even the mandatory cliched plot-twist ending is ridiculously predictable, and although I won't reveal it here, you will see it coming from at least half and hour away. And don't even get me started on the plot holes... eugh...
Direction: Even though I haven't seen the original for well over a decade, I can distinctly remember the sense of paranoia that it was soaked in. While not as effective as The Thing (but seriously, what is?), it was good. That entire aspect of the movie is ditched in the sequel, in favour of straight out sci-fi carnage. Think Aliens compared to Alien, just less good (but seriously, what is?).
Overall... really, I might make it sound bad, but this movie is actually pretty damn good for a straight-to-DVD project. Personally, I thought the make-up effects made the movie worth watching, but I'm a sucker for that stuff. If you want mindless futuristic carnage and some excellent gore that requires very little thought, this is the movie for you.
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