An underwater mining station with a diverse crew discovers a sunken Russian ship, which they loot. Among the loot is an organism that takes over the people exposed to it, one by one. It raids the blood supply, it absorbs its victims, and in one case it tears itself out of the guy's chest. The remaining three crew members search the station for the slimy monster, wielding ungainly looking flame throwers. But there's no stopping the thing. Three of the crew -- Weller, Pays, and Hudson -- escape and rise to the surface as the station implodes behind them but the monster has followed them to the surface. It eats Hudson and as it tries to gulp down Weller, he throws a flare into its mouth and shouts a wisecrack, something like "Bon Appetit." Boom! A Coast Guard helicopter ferries them to safety.
It's not "Alien". It's a shameless ripoff of "Alien," done more confusingly and less artfully. There is little of the tension in the original and this production adds nothing in the way of innovation. "Alien" at least got rid of the stereotype of the sterile environment. It had rusty cargo hold, swinging chains, and unfriendly maze-like interiors. This movie has the same sort of sets but it breaks no new ground. Come to think of it, though, there may be nothing new here but it's NOT all stolen from "Alien." Weller's final wisecrack is from "Jaws." Steal only from the most commercial successes.
The acting is okay. I've always kind of liked Peter Weller. His acting style is "cool" but intense, and he has an appointment at Syracuse University teaching Ancient Civilizations. You have to admire that kind of versatility in an individual. William Blake and Marcus Aurelius are among other admirables. I admire Ernie Hudson, too. He was my co-star in "Weeds." But his role here is tightly bound up with the character and it has no spark.
Oh, well, I guess I admire Amanda Pays too, but for entirely different reasons. She's an actress of modest talent but precise and conventional beauty. Makes one wonder where that beauty comes from. Genes, of course, but why does it take the shape it does? A few millimeters less or extra, here or there, and the beauty becomes base.
Anyway, if you like "Alien" you might like this, but less so.
It's not "Alien". It's a shameless ripoff of "Alien," done more confusingly and less artfully. There is little of the tension in the original and this production adds nothing in the way of innovation. "Alien" at least got rid of the stereotype of the sterile environment. It had rusty cargo hold, swinging chains, and unfriendly maze-like interiors. This movie has the same sort of sets but it breaks no new ground. Come to think of it, though, there may be nothing new here but it's NOT all stolen from "Alien." Weller's final wisecrack is from "Jaws." Steal only from the most commercial successes.
The acting is okay. I've always kind of liked Peter Weller. His acting style is "cool" but intense, and he has an appointment at Syracuse University teaching Ancient Civilizations. You have to admire that kind of versatility in an individual. William Blake and Marcus Aurelius are among other admirables. I admire Ernie Hudson, too. He was my co-star in "Weeds." But his role here is tightly bound up with the character and it has no spark.
Oh, well, I guess I admire Amanda Pays too, but for entirely different reasons. She's an actress of modest talent but precise and conventional beauty. Makes one wonder where that beauty comes from. Genes, of course, but why does it take the shape it does? A few millimeters less or extra, here or there, and the beauty becomes base.
Anyway, if you like "Alien" you might like this, but less so.