13 November,2010 06:35 AM IST | | Bryan Durham
SKYLINE
U/A; SCI-FI/DRAMA
Dir: The Brothers Strause
Cast: Eric Balfour, Scottie Thompson, Donald Faison, David Zayas, and Brittany Daniel
Rating: ''
What's it about: Alien abduction stories are nothing new. But mass abduction without discrimination in one of the most populated cities in the world? That's something that hasn't been attempted before. Moreover, creature horror flicks (specially those that involve aliens) is a genre that always leaves a lot to be desired.
In Skyline, Jarrod (Balfour) and girlfriend Elaine (Thompson) arrive in Los Angeles at the invitation of the former's best buddy, Terry (Faison). Terry is filthy rich and wants his friend to move to the City Of Angels. After a night of partying, they awake to a bright light that draws those who look into it, like moths to flame. It doesn't end there. One by one, they get sucked up into an alien mothership. Jarrod and Elaine try their best to survive. Do they succeed?
What's hot: When you've worked on the visual effects of some of the world's best known and loved blockbustersu00a0-- some that include end-of-the-world epicsu00a0-- and you're making your directorial debut, expectations quite naturally run sky-high.
And considering they made the film on their own terms (minus the interference that comes with being associated with big studios and their stifling policies), The Brothers Strause should be happy that the film is at best, a showreel of what one can expect (if this is what they can muster given limited resources and talent, imagine what they can do with big money, better writers and A-List actors) from them. Some of the scenes between the human resistance and the alien monsters are to watch out for. What really sets this film apart is the surrender to the fact that there is no escape. Sooner or later, the aliens are gonna get you. They're smarter, bigger and faster than you. Period.
What's not: Balfour, Zayas and Faison are talented TV and film actors, who do precious little in this film except wait around, squabble and then die. One expected the human element and the struggle to survive to be a little less one-sided. The film's special effects are the real heroes. The film has a wafer-thin plot that allows the directors to play out their grand fantasy to effect (pun intended).
What to do: Don't go expecting entertainment from this film. You won't get it. Despite the effects being of stellar quality, you really don't feel for the people dying as you never connect with them. I recommend watching it only if you want a change from the otherwise drab fare this week or if you don't get tickets to the other big English film this week.
