Xtro 3: Watch the Skies

Well, given the fact that the first "Xtro" movie wasn't a particular impressive movie, I can't claim to have had much interest in the following movies. I wasn't actually aware that there were additional movies beyond the first, not until I happened to stumble upon "Xtro 3: Watch the Skies" in 2020. And being of the mindset that a movie should be given a fair chance, I sat down and watched it.

Well, at least 1 hour and 5 minutes of it, then I just tossed the towel in the ring and gave up. This movie was boring and uneventful. Nay, it was actually a stupid and pointless movie.

The storyline was stupid and seemed like it had been written by someone in primary school as an English assignment. Then someone had the brilliant idea of translating it into a movie script. Problem is that it just didn't work well.

The effects in the movie were hilariously bad, and seriously outdated even back in 1995. The alien was just such an eyesore that it was dragging down the entire movie. It was so god awful fake to look at, and it couldn't be taken serious in any way.

I had initially expected the movie to be somewhat better, since it had Andrew Divoff on the cast list. But not even he could lift up the train wreck that is "Xtro 3: Watch the Skies". And the movie also had Jim Hanks on the cast list, which I suppose served as somewhat of a lure for the audience as well.

I am sure that there are fans of these movies out there. I just didn't enjoy this third movie in the franchise in any way.

Xtro 3 takes place on a deserted island where a group of Marines try to figure out just what happen at their Japanese intern camp. Once they land, they find an alien spacecraft and an ET looking creature living inside it; thereupon, all hell breaks loose. I actually enjoyed this sequel more than Xtro 2. The film has an enjoyable plot and alien effects; nonetheless, it can become too rakish for some people. Look closely for Tom Hanks's brother Jim Hanks, who has a supporting role.

Lieutenant Marin Kim (Sal Landi) tells his story to a reporter of how he accompanied Captain Fetterman (Andrew Divoff) to an island 200 miles off the coast of the United States allegedly to clear the island of explosive ordinance, but once there with his team they uncover an extraterrestrial secret left forgotten for 50 years that has its sights set on revenge on humans.

While the in name only sequel to Xtro, Xtro II: The Second Encounter was a troubled production, the home video market at the time meant it was successful enough to warrant this third entry which according to director and producer Harry Bromley Davenport was a much more pleasant experience than Xtro II. Xtro 3: Watch the Skies is a superior effort to Xtro II, but not to the point where I'd call it passable or serviceable.

While Xtro II took inspiration from Alien/Aliens with its tight corridors, creature effects, and general character set, Xtro 3 takes inspiration from Predator with a jungle/island setting and an alien antagonist with cloaking abilities and mixes it with aesthetic and thematic similarities to the X-Files. The movie is way better made than Xtro II and also features more engaged characters including one character named Banta who, no joke, has a backstory inspired by Tonya Harding for some reason. The alien in Xtro while a very generic design is at least more dynamic and articulated than the xenomorph like creature from the predecessor. While being better than the bottom of the barrel Xtro II, it doesn't elevate itself to good as it's still padded with thin characters who don't have the chemistry or presence of its inspiration in Predator.

Xtro 3 is what it is, a below average direct-to-video film. It doesn't do anything wrong like its predecessor, but it doesn't do anything to distinguish itself from a crowded field either.

I list this turkey in my bottom five films of all time and I've seen quite a few. But to do B-movies justice, I always look for something redeeming. It doesn't have to be anything big either as long as a film contains some feature of interest. I'll settle for an original plot or a great villain to drive the story forward or a fight scene or dialogue that I can chuckle at, or at least remember. Ex: Men at work, pathetic story but great dialogue and quite a few funny scenes.

Alas, Xtro has no such scene. Only a barage of uninteresting characters, terrible effects, compounded by a score that sent me running for the can. Not only are these characters lacking in realism, personality and well, character. They are about the stupidest bunch of morons I've ever seen. I hoped throughout the whole "film" they would be killed, slowly. Hmmm, but I wonder: what could possibly kill them? Certainly not the alien. That rubber dummy couldn't kill my dead cat. And since this alien is only about 2 feet high, the characters shouldn't be running from it, they should stepping on it.

One more thing: It's ability to become invisible is the biggest blatant ripoff of Predator I've ever seen. Listen...if you want to watch something involving soldiers being stalked by an alien, watch Aliens and Predator, which are among my top five of all time, not this crap.

A small US military group are sent to a deserted island to dispose any live bombs. When they get there, something not quite right. As they find out that they're expendable objects who would soon encounter one vengeful alien. Through an old hermit on the island they discover that this was a place where they kept an alien species and experimented on them. Not only they have an angry ET to face, but Military intelligence who plan to use them as bait.

While, this is the third of the "Xtro" series, there's no relation between the three films. "Predator" heavily influences this tacky straight-to video Sci-fi fare. One thing definitely is that "Predator" is a definite masterpiece when compared to this cheap, hokey and pitifully vapid effort. Even the actors here, make Schwarzenegger look good! Very embarrassing execution, disastrously inept special effects and daft performances may you think "Oh no. There goes another one of my brain cells" when watching this one-of-a-kind piece of trash. The stuffy film is amateurishly put together with a clichéd narrative that's shamelessly derivative. Reckless characters act tough and spit out macho dribble with attitude. It's pretty mind numbing to listen to, especially when it goes for meaningful conversations. Streaming through is a husky voice-over and a lot white rabbits to hold your attention. Yeah, there's something engaging about those white fluffy rabbits!

Despite finding it quite an irritable and drab viewing, few things hit the mark. There are some quite nasty moments when the rubbery alien decides it's torture time with some blood squirting. The thunderous music score manages a few chilling cues. While the performances are laughably hopeless, but Robert Culp and a slightly amusing Andrew Divoff are the odd exception. While, the make-up effects of the outer space visitor are questionable, it still manages to hold up for its tiny budget.

Director Harry Bromley (who also directed the first two flicks) is really clutching at straws with this flatly handled and too practical project. Imaginative details, gripping suspense and bug-eyed visuals are long gone here. No techniques really stand out in this by the numbers exercise and what he comes up with is mostly ridiculous and ineffective.

Poorly done garbage that turns into a wearisome puddle.