This is a standard “found-footage” sci-fi movie minus the frills of a star-powered cast and a creative script
A family goes away and becomes hapless earthlings hunted by inquisitive extra-terrestrials.
This seems to be the standard storyline for several sci-fi movies of late, and Alien Abduction’s plot is just as generic as its title.
Run-of-the-Mill Script
Director Matty Beckerman follows the abduction nightmare of a family on a camping trip that turns sour. The parents, Peter and Katie (played by Peter Holden and Katherine Sigismund), pay no attention to rumours about the Brown Mountains.
With them on the trip are their three children: Jillian and Corey, and their 11-year-old autistic son, Riley (Riley Polanski). Riley is the trip’s ‘cameraman,’ lugging around his camcorder as a safety blanket. It is Riley who records the entire abduction.
Alien Abduction follows the many found-footage horror movies before it. Of course, one cannot help but think that using ‘real’ movie footage was the producers’ intelligent way of working around film costs and not breaking the small budget.
Childish curiosity
Perhaps amateurish at times, the film does have its positives. The use of a child’s innocent curiosity is a brilliant way to explain why one would continue shooting in times of such distress.
Unlike many other films that are similarly shot, this film offers an interesting backstory with the autistic son. Having the camcorder as his only shield from an otherwise frightening world makes sense.
The film should also receive acknowledgement for introducing supporting cast members such as Sean (Jeff Bowser), the world-weary local who adds an interesting flair to this sci-fi horror.
Stereotype Sci-Fi
Aside from some well-developed characters, Alien Abduction does not offer much to make it stand out. Not only its small budget but its formulaic plot also dooms the film to be just another sci-fi flick with little to be excited about.
Still, avid sci-fi and horror fans can expect a thrilling ride through a ‘safe’ sci-fi storyline.
ALIEN ABDUCTION [TBA]
DIRECTOR: Matty Beckerman
STARRING: Katherine Sigismund, Corey Eid & Riley Polanski
GENRE: Sci-Fi, Thriller
RUN LENGTH: 85 min
RELEASE: May 1
ADVERTISEMENTS