Hideous science fiction regarding a city's attack by alien invaders with lousy acting, painfully groan-inducing dialogue("I'm gonna send them a greeting courtesy of the human race" or "Not to worry. With the information I have stored we can create a weapon to kick some serious scaly butt."), below par (..not very)special computer effects, and a group of characters you could care less about. Basically a Grade-Z rehash of Independence Day with a large circular mothership which enters the sky of Earth releasing smaller attack vessels which blast or kidnap human beings. The plot centers on deputies, carrying two convicts, who pick up a professor, his granddaughter, and assistant accidentally wrecking their van when an alien vessel nearly smashes into them. They find a cave, hoping for shelter until morning, discovering that within it's belly contains the aliens harvesting their captured humans, embodying them in cocoons. It becomes a fight for survival as the humans attempt to escape through the bowels of the cave, searching for a way out, while the aliens follow behind, with evil intent. Meanwhile Sheriff Nate Bridges(Charles Napier, given star treatment despite being in the film for maybe 7 minutes tops)attempts to salvage a devastating situation culminating as alien vessels attack his city without an end in sight. It will take ingenuity and courage in order to uncover a means to combat their alien enemies.
Hoke Howell(..a Fred Olen Ray regular)has a rare serious, straight role as Dr Chambers, the revered scientist who has tried to contact others regarding the possible threat of an alien race. Marc Robinson, as the convict who must become hero as the lives of their group hang in the balance, is stuck with an endless supply of corny one-liners("We're not in Kansas anymore" or "There goes the neighborhood") as he downs men in rubber suits with a shot gun that barely ever needs re-loading. Murky, downright ugly photography(..the film takes place mostly at night, or in the damned cave)and laughably unconvincing aliens(..right out of Invaders from Mars;they had an excuse, director Peter Maris doesn't). The filmmakers were ambitious in scope..but the budget wasn't enough to compliment their ambitions. Not worth your time, unless you are a masochist who enjoys agony.
The aliens are both little green men with massive foreheads and giant creatures with sharp teeth(..and lights that blink). When the monsters are killed, they vaporize. Even by 1996 standards, the special effects were weak. A major problem I had was that director Paris spends way too much time with the deputies and foul convict, exchanging profane insults with another..I wanted the aliens to blast these irritating characters. Included in their own sub-plot, two scientists, students under Professor Chambers, watch in horror, tapping away at keys, peering into their computer monitors as the alien ships tear away at buildings and vehicles below with lasers..their work room has a large window overlooking the city. The attacks aren't as grand or impressive as they ought to be.
Hoke Howell(..a Fred Olen Ray regular)has a rare serious, straight role as Dr Chambers, the revered scientist who has tried to contact others regarding the possible threat of an alien race. Marc Robinson, as the convict who must become hero as the lives of their group hang in the balance, is stuck with an endless supply of corny one-liners("We're not in Kansas anymore" or "There goes the neighborhood") as he downs men in rubber suits with a shot gun that barely ever needs re-loading. Murky, downright ugly photography(..the film takes place mostly at night, or in the damned cave)and laughably unconvincing aliens(..right out of Invaders from Mars;they had an excuse, director Peter Maris doesn't). The filmmakers were ambitious in scope..but the budget wasn't enough to compliment their ambitions. Not worth your time, unless you are a masochist who enjoys agony.
The aliens are both little green men with massive foreheads and giant creatures with sharp teeth(..and lights that blink). When the monsters are killed, they vaporize. Even by 1996 standards, the special effects were weak. A major problem I had was that director Paris spends way too much time with the deputies and foul convict, exchanging profane insults with another..I wanted the aliens to blast these irritating characters. Included in their own sub-plot, two scientists, students under Professor Chambers, watch in horror, tapping away at keys, peering into their computer monitors as the alien ships tear away at buildings and vehicles below with lasers..their work room has a large window overlooking the city. The attacks aren't as grand or impressive as they ought to be.