tommyb

The opening sequence with the train model that looks about 3 inches tall is a good preparation for this abysmal excuse for a film. The sets are tacky, the Martian possessed people look like they have been borrowed from a Mad Max film, and the acting is nothing short of wooden. A hard wood at that.

I was surprised to see that actors such as Jason Statham and Natasha Henstridge were in this movie, considering their past success with Statham in Snatch, and the unforgettable role of Henstridge as the sexy/deadly alien in Species. I can only assume that they forfeited a good salary for their roles in this film (as the budget was relatively small), but for what I don't know. Maybe they thought Carpenter would be up to his old standard.

Carpenter has written, directed, produced and composed for some cracking titles in the past, and I really don't understand what on earth he was doing with this joke.

I was a little dubious before I watched this film, as I have been let down by many TV movies in the past. But, as the story opened, I was drawn in and the pace of the film was well balanced. Roberts was a believable and likeable, and Wynter became more attractive as the film went on! Yes, the CGI was a little over done, but all in all considering that this is just a movie for TV, it was a damn sight more entertaining than many modern massive budget films.

Although I first saw the film when I was v. young (and it successfully disturbed me then), it is still one of the films that I will not let myself think about in the middle of the night. The second film in the trio was also spooky and worth a viewing, but unfortunately number 3 was an embarrassment that shouldn't have been made..