CERT: TBC / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (US), TBC (UK)
An elite SWAT team swoop on a group of criminals, apprehending one of the main men. While transferring hard nut drug lord Miguel (Robert LaSardo), their van loses power and it sounds as though there’s a large scale assault happening outside. Leading the SWAT team is Vernon (Richard Grieco), who having just been diagnosed with terminal blood cancer is even wearier of everything than usual, who assumes someone is attempting to break the prisoner out, and they close ranks, trying to get him to the nearest police station. Upon leaving the van, they see what’s really happening: an all-out alien invasion.
Low-budget queen Tara Reid makes an appearance as the legend of the alien visitors is recounted (how lucky is it that the one bad guy they saved has heard of them?), and to keep things up to date, a YouTube blogger happens to have made it to the police station for safety so it along for the ride (and comedy value).
The title and aliens scream cheap ‘50s sci-fi but the action is straight out of the action film playbook, and the clash of genres doesn’t always work. Make no mistake, though, writer/director Brandon Slagle appears to know the film’s limitations and plays it purely B-movie. From the dialogue to embracing the clichés, it never seems to take itself too seriously, despite the earnestness of the actors. Which is probably where the charm of the picture is. It may feel as though the most generic cop thriller has been edited into a cheap knock-off of Independence Day at times, but it’s all harmless fun.