This film was, until recently, one of those which always seemed to pass me by at my local rental store or video sale. It sounded interesting enough and for some reason I got the impression it had a decent reputation, but it always ended up losing out to the new release or flashier cover. Which is unfortunate because I was missing out on a cracking piece of sci-fi that harks back to the genre�s earlier days, foregoing the big explosions and space battles in favour of a more well-rounded plot and calculated atmosphere.
The film opens with a slightly unnecessary monologue by Kiefer Sutherland who provides a quick backstory of telekinetic aliens and duplicitous humans, and then kicks in with Rufus Sewell waking up in a bath having lost his memory but gained a dead hooker. Not a bad day�s work. He sets off to unravel the mystery of his predicament and soon finds he is wanted not only by the police but by shadowy beings who have come to Earth to try and halt their species� slow march to extinction. All set on a stage seemingly designed to house a film noir.
The interiors of the locations are excellent, mixing modern with gothic, Victorian and so on, I�m not an architect but there�s a huge melding of styles resulting in a great sense of time dislocation. The underground dwellings of the aliens is also well realised, mixing Barker�s Pinhead with Giger�s backdrops and Gilliam-esque devices. You could say it�s just ripping these off, but it all comes together so well that it evokes a mood that is entirely it�s own. Some of the CGI backdrops are distinctly made-for-TV standard though.
The plot is mature and unhurried, and if the acting is not great then it is at worst functional (Jennifer Connolly and her eyebrows are never going to win Oscars - Richie! Haha! - Matt) plus this has never been one of sci-fi�s strongest traits. Instead we get the kind of ambience and involving plot that wouldn�t be out of place in an H. G. Wells short story, which is a welcome change of pace from a space action spectacular. Genre fans should love it. |
