The Man Who Fell to Earth - Loving the Alien

As a 'die hard' David Bowie fan, you may think I'd be automatically inclined to love everything he's ever done, albeit musically, or on screen.  He's dabbled in acting here and there and let's just say his filmic career has been a 'mixed bag.' However, most seem to agree that 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' is an outright classic.  I guess it is.  To a degree.

Bowie plays an alien who comes to Earth in order to save his own dying planet which is running out of water - fast.  However, once he's here he has to come to the - depressing - conclusion that he's probably never going home and slowly falls victim to us humans' 'desires and pleasures.'

You may well think that, based on that plot synopsis, that you're going to get some sort of major out and out science fiction film with plenty of special effects and maybe even some action.  You'd be very wrong.  What you'll get is more akin to a documentary.  No, the characters are all acting and - of course - not aware of the camera.  Yet it feels like it's almost a 'fly-on-the-wall' kind of affair.  Bowie is excellent as the titular alien; he's aloof and 'otherworldly,' although critics do point out that he's more just playing himself and even slightly influenced by various substances that plagued his life in the seventies.

If you're a major fan of Bowie, like me, then you'll probably love it, but despite the overall feeling that this film is amazing, there are always going to be those who downright hate it.  And, to be fair, I can see why.  It's no easy watch and, although I own it on DVD, it's not a film I choose to sit through often.  You certainly need to be in the mood for something very dark and serious.  There are never really any moments that lighten the mood and it'll leave you feeling pretty bleak and empty afterwards.  Plus it's getting on for nearly two and a half hours long, so it doesn't end quickly either!

It is a classic though.  If nothing else you have to agree that there's very little in the way of modern films that come close to the look, feel and topics that 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' covers.

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one

The Village of the Damned (1995) - Much lampooned and most enjoyable

I've only just watched 1995's 'The Village of the Damned' and yet I have this real feeling of de ja vu.  For some reason, despite my love of horror and the film's strong cast and crew, I never got round to seeing it in the nineties and yet I feel like I must have seen it somewhere.  Then it hit me... I haven't just seen it somewhere, I think it's more like I've seen it everywhere!

A small American town faints - yes, literally - everyone just drop where they're standing, only to wake a few hours later with many of the child-bearing age women now pregnant.  Skip forward a few years and there's a crop of creepy platinum-blond-haired children running around - and practically running the town at the same time!

It seems like this 'concept' has been made fun of, or at least references, in so many pop culture classics since its release that I kind of knew what would happen by now without needing to watch the actual source material.  However, it's so good... I'm glad I did.

The two leads know their stuff - Christopher Reeve and Kirsty Alley.  Both seasoned pros in their respective fields, but the one thing they have in common seems to be an ability to know that this film, although pretty horrific in places, can't be taken overly seriously.  Therefore they seem to know the right time to play things straight, but not TOO straight.  You also have Mark Hamill thrown into the cast list as the local priest.  He's not in it much and, when he's christening the children after their multiple births, I think the producers missed a trick in not having him saying 'May the Force be with you,' instead of the traditional blessing!

The cast all play their parts well, but - possibly - what elevates this film over many of its genre is the fact that (horror legend) John Carpenter directed it.  I read on the internet (so hardly fact!) that he only agreed to do this because he was contractually obliged to do so.  I don't know how true that it, but he certainly seems to be able to get a good performance out of his cast, even when he's not really trying.  Plus you have 'typical' John Carpenter-esque music which really does add to the overall foreboding feel.

There's not too much in the way of gore, but it is rather creepy.  Films (especially in the horror genre) that rely on children as primary actors can be a bit hit and miss.  Sometimes the kids just aren't believable, due to their lack of years in front of the camera (hardly their fault at a young age, but it can be a turn off for viewers).  However, here they all fit the bill perfectly and will make you damn glad that your little monster in real life isn't half as bad as these literal monsters.

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that

The Nest (1987) - Worth it for the final act (just)

If you choose to watch only ONE film about mutated killer cockroaches, then I strongly recommend 1987's 'The Nest.' Yes, granted there aren't that many to choose from, but this one is pretty good.  It's set on a small island where one of those evil corporations has decided to use as a 'test subject' for their latest 'invention,' i.e. mutated cockroaches.  Of course they never quite figured the little critters would be quite so hungry for human flesh, but that's why they run these sort of tests, I guess.

The characters aren't that bad (despite what I'd read in other reviews which says they're totally unlikeable and badly-acted.  I actually thought it was a nice touch having the male lead 'seeing' two women at once!  This is hardly the actions of 'the hero' and just tickled me for some reason.

The first couple of thirds of the film I was sitting back thinking that, although watchable, it was all a little cheap and I could take it or leave it.  However, I suppose a film like this doesn't have millions of dollars for a budget and has to work with what it has - and what the film-makers obviously had was the idea that they would save the best until last.  The final act is where all the best bits are.  I won't go into too much detail, but the plot takes a few interesting (if a tad unbelievable - but, hey, you've sat down to watch a film about killer cockroaches, so I guess you're not too fussed about suspending your disbelief just that little bit further!) turns.

And the 'good turns' come in the form of the 'practical effects.' It's nice to see what people could do with latex and dummies; they just look so much more real that today's digitally-added computer special effects that most modern films are made with.

'The Nest' may never be a true 'horror classic,' but if you like your eighties films cheesy and full of gore then this one is worth sticking with.

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that