Name: Alien Outpost
IMDb: Alien Outpost main page
Genres: Action, SciFi, Thriller Origins: UK, South Africa. Release: 2014.
Cast: Joe Reegan as Omohundro, Adrian Paul as General Dane, Brandon Auret as Savino, Reily McClendon as Andros, Douglas Tate as The Heavy, Rick Ravanello as Spears, Matthew Holmes as North, Sven Ruygrok as Frankie.
Directed by: Jabbar Raisani. Written by: Blake Clifton, Jabbar Raisani.
The Three Acts:
Initial Tableau: Earth has been invaded, somewhat successfully. The United Space Defense Force (USDF, not much to do with the once United States) was formed to respond after most human governments were rendered useless. Strong counter-attacks by the USDF sent most of the aliens packing, but bastions of aliens remain. USDF funding dropped after the departure of most of the aliens, and the further fall of the world economy. However, a reduced number of aliens are still about and are still dangerous. The USDF does what it can on a shoestring budget. The main action of the film is set in territory once part of an Islamic nation, probably Pakistan or Afghanistan since the locals speak Pashto. The year is 2033.
Delineation of Conflicts: The USDF personnel have to fight the aliens in a high-tech (aliens) versus low-tech (USDF) setting. The USDF has to deal with the often unfriendly locals in a low-tech versus no-tech setting. The particular outpost where the action occurs has to deal with shortages of munitions, trained (or any) replacement troops, food, and weapons. The support of the outpost from distant, better funded bases seems spotty at best. Are the outposts and the bases even on the same team?
Who will 'win' the wars of attrition? Will it be the desert, the locals, the USDF, or the aliens? Or will the USDF and the aliens lose to the patient desert? Will there be any changes in alliances?
Resolution: Well, watch the film.
One line summary: Earth military vs stranded aliens.
Statistics:
Cinematography: 5/10 This varies widely through the progress of the film. Some of the CGI is well done; some is not. The shaky cam footage is counter-productive as always. The segments of traditional filming were reasonably well done.
Sound: 8/10 Usually good.
Acting: 7/10 Most of the players I have not seen perform before, but most of them did rather well.
Screenplay: 5/10 The elements of the film are not all that well put together. This includes: CGI intervals, ex post facto troop interviews that were expertly shot, intertitles with expository text held onscreen for long periods, discussions among troops during ordinary times (cleaning guns, washing dishes, sleeping, and so on), and shaky cam action sequences.
Final Rating: 6/10
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