Canaries (2017) User Reviews

Canaries: I expected more

[Platypuschow · 4/10 · 10 March 2019]

So this was advertised to be a Welsh Shaun of the Dead-like sci-fi comedy, sadly it fails hard on most fronts.

It tells the story of a group of friends celebrating new years just as an alien force makes their move against mankind.

The characters are pretty plain and lack gimmicks and the aliens are, well they're basically pale dudes with Lady Deathstrike fingers and they wear..........raincoats. So, yeah.

Comparing it to Shaun of the Dead is optimistic, this just isn't funny. There are a couple of laughs to be had but not enough for a feature movie, in fact in places it gets very serious for extended periods and you forget its a comedy at all.

From a sci-fi perspective it really hammers home the X-Files conspiracy nonsense that is going on in the background away from our heroes, and that's about as interesting and engaging as a 60 minute special on shoes.

Not funny, not interesting and the aliens quite frankly look ridiculous. But wait, the worst part is yet to come! The movies ending, is well............it doesn't have one. Things happen, then you're hit with a to be continued and the credits roll. So this is an incomplete film and chances are it won't get a sequel so it'll never be continued anyway.

Should have been better but they just didn't have much to work with.

The Good:

Some great writing

Robert Pugh

The Bad:

Comes across as cheap in places

No ending

The aliens with the gloves from the local tool shop...

[deloudelouvain · 4/10 · 22 March 2019]

Don't take the ten star reviews too seriously as those are people that are related to someone that has something to do with this movie. It's certainly not that great as they pretend it is, and the excuse that it is a small budget has nothing to do with it. There are plenty of good movies with a low budget but unfortunately Canaries or whatever name it is isn't one of them. I'll admit that the beginning was intriguing and promising but as soon as the first alien appeared it went seriously downhill with the quality. Those aliens must be one of the worst aliens I ever saw. A couple lenses for a different color of eyes, long claws glued on a pair of cheap working gloves where they didn't even take the time to erase the brand on the back of the gloves, that's about it. The acting was also, let's just stay friendly, not Oscar winning material. The fight scenes were most of the time just awful. They talk about a sequel but I don't see any reason why we would have to endure this for a second time.

Pretty grim effort sadly

[henry8-3 · 2/10 · 17 August 2018]

An alien invasion of a very small welsh village by badly made up aliens wearing yellow raincoats and washing up gloves with pointy fingers stuck on sounded so attractive. I so desperately wanted to like this very low budget piece of fun, but it must be said it's pretty grim. All the best to those that made it - I just hope it becomes a cult classic

Don't bother

[mintyjaffa · 1/10 · 13 October 2018]

How does stuff this bad get made!!!! Pointless, makes no sense

Ouch

[domjones-93315 · 2/10 · 14 August 2018]

So wanted it to be good, but it wasnt. Then wanted it to be so bad to become good, but it wasnt.

Ironic that Cwmtwrch was on the map for it's little known sulphur spring or stink water. Now it's known for a little known stink film.

Sorry Boy Bach, a decent Brain Dead or a low budget Welsh cornetto trilogy homage this isnt.

They deserve credit on raising £29,000 and trying though.

U-F-Nooooooo !!!!!

[ruddster · 2/10 · 14 August 2018]

The Canaries is unfunny and very weak in the story line department. Don't bother with this film it's rubbish, I cannot believe it has a 7.6 IMDB rating.

Will never get that time back....

[emmasutherland-70624 · 1/10 · 14 August 2018]

As above. Wanted to watch a british film.....but what......???

Poor, boring and tedious

[avmwales · 1/10 · 22 March 2019]

I think poor, boring and tedious should have been the strap line for this turd of a picture. I recently caught it on Sky and was pleased to see something made in Wales (as a proud welshman). Maybe this is where it went wrong. The characters are poorly written and have a stereotypical view of what being from Wales is. It was condescending to put it politely, and the characters were dreary and lifeless and had no resemblance to anyone I have ever met. Maybe the writer should have checked out some Welsh culture before basing it in Wales. At least taken in Twin Town or something.

I was also bemoaning seeing the lad from high hopes being made to perform in this abortion, Mrs Hepplewhite must be turning in her grave.

One to miss for sure

8 out of 10 for a film of this kind

[kryptkicker-30845 · 8/10 · 18 August 2018]

So I'm scoring this based on my personal opinion, and classed it as a low budget. I'm not comparing it to any other "type" of movie to give an accurate reflection.

I watched it because it was fun, on sky and Welsh. Do I regret it... Hell no. Will it win Oscars also no. This is down to earth fun, solid acting, solid plot and well written. They've seemed to make the best with what they had and the end result is a high end low budget movie. I would recommend for sure but don't pull it apart and try to make it something its not... just sit back and appreciate the ride.

In tune

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 19 October 2017]

The movie played at Frightfest and it arguably had if not the best introduction to a movie, then definitely one of the best. The main actor got conned into stripping (only partly, upper half, but still a hoot for all the women and some men I guess, but fun nevertheless). And it all was setting the mood for one very funny movie.

The main character, a radio DJ, who is past his prime, goes back to his roots. For financial reasons of course. What he doesn't know: there are things happening outside of his realm ... literally! But while the dialog is amazing, the script may seem a bit convoluted in general, especially when it comes to coherence. Still that takes not much away from the fun you can have with this. Just roll with it and it's idea, that is really out there ...

Another horror flick that isn't really sci-fi.

[garyhoney1984 · 1/10 · 3 July 2019]

Okay the only good part about this was we got to see Hannah Daniels but what really sucks that she was the best actor / actress there and the first one to get killed off. If I didn't know better I give it a one because I couldn't get any lower . The beginning was really interesting but then it just kind of went South, and then North, East and West all at one time. We finally end up in some Welsh village that sounds like the butthole of Satan to finish the movie off. I would say a bunch of Millennials wrote this while they were high on crack. Don't waste your money to go buy it. PS it was rebranded as Alien Party Crashers in 2019 so don't buy that one either.

Awful!

[lloydsandeno · 1/10 · 1 August 2019]

I couldn't even manage watching it to the end. Wooden acting. Abismal script. Action scenes (if you can call them that) look very amateurish. It's like a bunch of media student got together for a school project, if they made this it would be a big fat FAIL! My advise is avoid.

Sci Why?!?!

[mannly · 3/10 · 14 August 2018]

I watched this because I adore Kai Owen, but I didn't laugh once while watching this predictably dreadful movie. The effects are absolutely awful, and there's some of the worst US accents and acting (other than Kai) I've seen in along time. Aliens my bottom. The love children of a zombie and a bad Wolverine more like...

barely watchable

[ops-52535 · 3/10 · 5 March 2019]

Considering this being the favourite subject for everyone dreaming of becoming a newbie filmmaker. the ones who has made this flick are more comprehended and experienced, but not good enough. there have been made many british indie-movies that are far better than this

its like aretha franklin screams,''its raining men, hallelujha its raining men''.....in a typical welsh village in a typical welsh vale. its new year and what goes up must fall down somewhere and sometime. in this case its an evil alien ,actually 4 with claws like big dippers on their fingers, hunting down and kill parties whenever....

its a bad story, bad timeline and plot, and below accepted acting. filmo are ok but slash and stash are ketchup like ridden. there are a littel giggle here and there, but not enough to call it a comedy.

if you love indie,then watch. if like good movies the way the grumpy old man likes it,then let it be.

Decent Movie

[william-mingozzi · 12 March 2019]

This film has a lot going for it, and deserves a lot more than 4/10. While not original in itself, there are enough extras in the script to make it that bit different. The characters are believable, and it's nice to see aliens attacking Wales for once! It's low budget, and some of the acting, and editing could be better, but it's much better than many bigger budget, star laden affairs. Well worth a watch if you get the chance, definitely better than average.

Strange response to this movie movie

[uscmd · 5/10 · 21 August 2019]

As many people ranked this movie 1-3 as did 7-10. Not exactly, mind you, but close. Pretty strange reaction.

I have a theory, those in the 1-3 cluster bailed out in the first 30 minutes. Those that rated it 7-10, hung around and saw the decided turn for the best about 35 minutes into the movie.

5 for me.

no.

[scarne-73674 · 1/10 · 16 September 2021]

This movie gave me clinical depression. Acting was fine I guess. Plot was more painful than slipping a razor blade covered in lemon into my eye. The effects were so bad I thought I was high, and the alien's claws were just obvious gloves. The soundtrack was also there. Whoever wrote this fever dream either needs the Nobel prize, or to be hung drawn and quartered.

Good time if you're drunk 10/10 IGN.

Good Indy Film

[jason24691 · 8/10 · 15 August 2018]

I have no idea why some reviews on here are criticising this film, maybe they are not used to watching Indy films and expect a big blockbuster film, well this film cost £29000 to make and i think they done an excellent job. The budget does show in the film but i think they make the most of it. The film makers have a lot of talent and maybe lets hope they will put some effort into making an historical film of Wales and its struggles for independence from an oppressive state

Rather clever

[simon.james · 7/10 · 15 August 2018]

An enjoyable 84 minutes, which may bring to mind peripherally Jaws, Hot Fuzz, I Know What You Did Last Summer among others, with some rather fancy locations. To producer Craig Russell, how on earth did you manage on the budget you mention? Congratulations: the mixture of eerie atmosphere, thrills (accompanied by notable soundtrack) and humour (some wry lines here) worked thoughtfully.

Strong small budget fun

[Alexanderpenning · 8/10 · 21 August 2018]

Strong little indie movie Admittedly I didnt know the budget was so tiny until looking at some other reviews. Story is something a bit different if unfortunately not able to be fully realised. Acting from all on board was solid, script was surprisingly entertaining and direction / score etc largely worked well. Worth a look in to see what can be done with small backing or even just for a bit of fun, though dont approach with expectations of blockbuster effects as it would be foolish. Also serious thumbs up for the use of Le Casette's - Left to our own device in the soundtrack! Fingers crossed for a cheeky sequel..

Well, that was ridiculous...

[peterobinson-76651 · 7/10 · 11 March 2019]

Very entertaining , though. Low budget, silly story, mid range laughs, Would recommend.

Awesome fun, excited for the sequel!

[hellijones · 10/10 · 18 August 2018]

I don't normally write reviews but seeing the producer defending this movie, I felt compelled to do so. I thought this was awesome fun and me and my husband thoroughly enjoyed it! Nothing serious and totally entertaining - what a movie should be. Amazed to see the budget was so tiny - awesome job! Looking forward to the sequel.

Considering the budget....

[jasonedge8 · 6/10 · 16 August 2018]

Indy films can often be a bit hit and miss. This one was a little bit of a miss for me which is a shame. Considering the budget I think they have done a great job but I think a few more laughs in the script would have tipped the balance for me.

For the budget, no complaints here.

[rsneill · 8/10 · 30 October 2018]

It's sad this film got so many poor reviews when it should be congratulated on doing so well with so little money. It's a funny US/Wales sci-fi with a touch of horror. You have to take it for what it is, and I enjoyed it on a rainy day with a cup of Darjeeling and some ginger biscuits 😉

Great fun film that doesn't take itself too seriously

[jackjack1 · 10/10 · 16 November 2018]

If they made this for 29k, then my first thought is wtf do they do with the millions they spend on some other films. This is a great example of what you can do with an incredibly small budget.

The real bonus for me is they also have the blonde Hinterland actress in it. Give her more roles please.