The Area 51 Incident

Cast View all

	Scott Chambers	Trent
	Toby Wynn-Davies	Doug
	Megan Purvis	Jenny
	Sian Altman	Elaine
	Heather Jackson	Helen
	Matthew Baunsgard	Nolan
	Susan Lee Burton	Lori
	Sam Sharma	Jake
	Peter Jeffries	Colt
	Derek Miller	Peter
	Spencer Austin	Major Capaldi
	James Kirk	Albert
	Mike Kelson	John
	Chris Cordell	Tunnel Infected Man
	Andrew Rolfe	Jenny's Father
	Nikki Wright	News Reporter
	Allan Waterfield	Soldier
	Nick Burton	Soldier
	Redd	Soldier
	Steve Bates	Soldier
	Kelly Rian Sanson	Scientist
	Lucia Klein	Scientist
	Craig David Dowsett	Soldier
	Giedre Jackyte	Soldier
	Harrison Thomas Boxley	Soldier

Crew View all

Director	Rhys Water
Writer	Tom Jolliffe, Rhys Water, Scott Chambers
Producer	Scott Chambers, Rhys Water, Keith Leopard
Musician	Enrico Cacace, Rhys Water
Photography	Vince Knight

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Notes

My quick rating - 3.7/10. This was a mixed bag of sci-fi horror that managed to entertain despite its noticeable flaws. The film centers around an outbreak in the notorious Area 51, forcing a group of survivors to seek refuge in an underground bunker. However, they soon discover that they are not alone, setting the stage for a tense, albeit somewhat predictable, survival story. One of the flix more glaring issues is its overuse of CGI effects. The quality of the CGI varies significantly, oscillating between decent and distractingly poor. Given the movie’s budget, it’s not entirely surprising, but the reliance on these effects becomes excessive, detracting from the overall experience. The practical effects are sparse, and unfortunately, the film's near-total lack of on-screen gore undermines the horror elements. Much of the violence happens off-screen, which may disappoint you if seeking a more visceral experience. The characters are a weak point to say the least. Their frequent lapses in judgment and lack of personal safety make it challenging to empathize with them. They repeatedly make foolish decisions, venturing into danger without adequate caution, which strains credibility and makes it hard to care about their fates. This stupidity undercuts the tension and suspense that the film attempts to build. I'd mention who they were but I didn't recognize a single one. The cinematography relies heavily on long shots, often keeping the chaos at a distance. While this approach can create a sense of scale, it also means that much of the action is glimpsed rather than fully experienced. This technique can be frustrating, as it keeps us at arm's length from the horror and limits the emotional impact. Despite these shortcomings, it is not without its merits. The film has a fun, brisk pace, packing in a fair amount of action that keeps things lively. The second half particularly, as it delves deeper into the nature of the creatures and the parasitic infection they spread. The scenes where the creatures break out of infected bodies and possess new hosts are among the film's more memorable moments. In summary, it is an uneven but ultimately enjoyable b-budget sci-fi horror flick. It struggles with overused and inconsistent CGI, a lack of on-screen gore, and characters who make bafflingly poor decisions. However, it redeems itself with a fast pace, a decent amount of action, and interesting creature lore. It’s not as bad as it could have been, and for fans of the genre, it offers just enough to make it worth a watch if you know what you are getting yourself into for the 81 minutes.

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