Post by Mr.HoRrOr on Sept 4, 2011 16:29:04 GMT -5
Plot:Based on the events which occured during the real life Apollo 18 NASA space mission, which took place in the 70's. Will cover the "what" part, of events which occured during the mission from a fantasy aspect. Officially, Apollo 17 launched December 17th, 1972 was the last manned mission to the moon. But a year later, in December of 1973, two American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the US Department of Defense. What you are about to see is the actual footage which the astronauts captured on that mission. While NASA denies its authenticity, others say it's the real reason we've never gone back to the moon.
Cast:
Warren Christie
Lloyd Owen
Ryan Robbins
My Thoughts:Better than advertised.
Review:"Apollo 18" was probably the most puzzlingly-advertised genre release I've ever seen from Dimension Films. Dimension, a distributor known for really tampering with their ads (see Black Christmas redux), for upcoming horror films. Just put out all kinds of weird, flashy-edited tv spots, promos, clips, etc for their scifi/horror space-terror film. A movie, which is based on the real life Apollo 18 mission to space. Coming after the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. In 1973, a secret mission to space called Apollo 18, was launched by the U.S. After that mission, the U.S. never went into space again. The film, weaves its own story for reasons why we never went back again.
Again, the ads for this movie would lead you to believe it's just gonna be terrible. And when I watched the ads, I saw a total comparison with Paramount's "Paranormal Activity" franchise. Where quick screams, yells, and flashy cuts of the movie are interwoven into one intense 10 second spot. Which is supposed to get the average viewer all giddy to run out and see the movie. Unfortunately for me, I was not giddy nor excited going into this movie. I am very tired already of the "flash-edited" television spots for movies.
Especially horror films. But "Apollo 18" may have done something very clever here. Intentionally, or unintentionally. You be the judge. But by lowering expectations so far down, that going into the movie...you expect absolutely nothing of value. After seeing the film, which runs a quick 75 minutes...I was actually pleasantly surprised. The movie does a decent job with the set pieces of the moon and all. Not sure how much cash was spent in ''Apollo 18"...but it was supposedly a very small-budgeted film. But the atmosphere created with such a small amount of money was really well done.
And set the tone nicely. I really as a viewer, believed these guys were on the moon from a fantasy aspect. Would've been really pathetic if I could've spotted boom mics, foam, or metal wires left behind by the crew. And in the case of some indie pictures, that sort of thign probably would've happened. But in the case of "Apollo 18"...the soundstage and set pieces were very clean and realistic. The movie takes some pages out of classics such as "The Thing", where it doesn't spring the terror on you right away.
But instead draws things out somewhat. Before it gets to the crux of "what"...is lurking on the moon. That will soon become a threat to these astronauts. Of course, like every space horror or scifi film. ''Apollo 18" also has its cliche moments as well. In this case, it's the remnants of the Russian spacecraft that came there before them. It seems in almost every scifi horror film. The Russians are the people who discover something freaky-weird or dangerous. And then end up getting "deaded" by it. Before some Americans happen by.
And then have to eventually do battle with the same threat. The "Virus" comes to midn in this instance. A film which was set on a huge boat, but did involve an extraterrestrial threat doing battle with a group of American salvagers. "Apollo 18" works without a large cast, a well-known cast, or a blaring soundtrack. Not that you'd expect one in a movie set in outerspace. But it's refreshing that more movies are staying away somewhat from this sort of thing. Not every horror film needs to have the latest "it" person in it.
Or a huge soundtrack to fill in the less entertaining moments. But this movies realism comes from the fact that it doesn't have a massive cast, or any real sound score, or any well known actors. Hell, the cast was not even part of the films promotion! And I think that might be a first! Only time I can't ever remember that happening was with the first "Paranormal Activity". And Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat. Who starred in that film as the couple whos home was haunted by a demon. "Apollo 18" really seems to know how to work the scifi/horror angles though. It has all of the obligatory scenes.
Scenes of panic, screaming, terror-stricken fright, claustrophobia, and shadowy things moving around with skittering and shrieking sound effects. The trouble for the spacemen begins when one of them, named Nate...is attacked and seemingly bitten by "something". After that, his health begins to deteriorate. As does his sanity. At that point, whatever attacked him, soon sets its sights on the other astronaut, Ben. So what did people know about the movie going in?
About its creatures or aliens I mean? Well, in one of the films trailers, you can see a multi-legged creepy-crawly running around inside of one of the astronauts space masks. Indeed, this is the threat that these astronauts face around the middle of the films second act. But I liked how the creatures were used in the movie. And how some things about them were revealed and yet kept secret. For example, early on...creepy noises and shrieks are heard over the communicators within the astronauts spacecraft. Indicating that something is on the moon with them. But we don't ever fully see these creepy-crawlies until late in the movie.
And even then, the camera work keeps from showing them too much. Or too often. Their presence is mostly suggested through the sounds they make when moving around, or shrieking. We don't know "what" they are. But considering they apparently reside on the moon, we can just call them aliens or extraterrestrial lifeforms. But we do learn that they reside beneath the moons surface. And use holes and tunnels to travel topside, and then back down below.
They're also capable of snatching their prey underground to attack them. Something we learn late in the picture. There are some nicely intense moments of the astronauts encounters with the creepy-crawlies in the film. But they mostly come late. With a few teases in acts 1 and 2. But the movie isn't a total and complete bore which I thought it would be. When things begin to run dry with character interaction and dialogue. The film quickly moves into monster movie mode.
Quickly allowing the terror to unfold as the film heads towards its conclusion. And the insect-like antagonists become more vicious and more persistent in claiming the lives of the two spacemen. There's also a small twist thrown in at the end, which makes things even more dark and subdued when the spacemen try and radio for help. Only to get the exact opposite. All in all, "Apollo 18" may be a short film, but in 72 minutes. It is definitely not a total waste at all. While space-horror might not be everybody's cup of tea (it certainly is not mine). "Apollo 18" ends up still being a pretty decent creature flick.
Positives:Good use of the small budget to create a visually viable outerspace atmosphere. The creepy-crawlies will make your skin crawl. The final act is very exciting and filled with suspense.
Negatives:Early on, things move at a snails pace and sort of drag. But as they're trying to build story before all hell breaks loose by act 3. 60% of it can be excused.
Overall:Three stars out of four.