★ 9 / 10
I watched two movies this week: "The Alien
R T
I watched two movies this week: "The Alien Factor" and "Sisters" (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and a sorry bunch of SNL regulars). Don't ask me why I thought…
I watched two movies this week: "The Alien Factor" and "Sisters" (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and a sorry bunch of SNL regulars). Don't ask me why I thought "Sisters" might be good, but it was clearly the most boring movie I've ever seen -- ever. I watched the "Unrated" version which, except for some gratuitous drug use, was PG at best. I finally had to turn it off half way through.
"The Alien Factor" was the opposite. It's not a super-charged Marvel movie, not a technically superb movie, not a special effects blow-out movie, but that's part of its charm. I like it for what it teaches in the art of low budget / no budget indie filmmaking. Like, how do you convert a 30 minute short into a 82 minute feature? Number 1: have three monsters, not just one -- that chomps up a lot of minutes. Number 2: have lots of walks and runs through the woods, supplemented by a couple car rides and a motorcycle ride. Yet more minutes.
But what was "Blair Witch" but a long walk in the woods?
"The Alien Factor" is good in that it forms a baseline minimum for what a cult movie needs to achieve in the form of wardrobe, locations, dialogue, story and effects. The first two aliens weren't too bad, but the third, the Lemoid, was terrible. Maybe it was just the transparency of the monster (it would be acceptable with today's green screen effect) and lack or coordination with Ben Zachray's movement (also not as much of a problem today), but today most creative high school kids can do as well.
Too, the hospital operating room -- or doctor's office -- was just a white sheet hung on the wall. Would also have been a good place for green screen, but that's something far easier to achieve today, even with a platform like iMovie.
The sheriff's office was spare, but a sheriff's office in some small counties and townships won't be too much more extravagant. Not a problem.
I think what I'm saying is that if you're a filmmaker and want to make your own horror / monster / alien movie, this is a good place to start for reference. There's nothing here you can't do for yourself, and if you can achieve the fame and cult status of Don Dohler in the process, then you're on your way. Good luck. Have fun!
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★ 1 / 10
Regional sci-fi alien invasion film shot in the
R T
Regional sci-fi alien invasion film shot in the rural environs, bars and backyards of Maryland, the Alien Factor is infused with a weird low-budget horror…
Regional sci-fi alien invasion film shot in the rural environs, bars and backyards of Maryland, the Alien Factor is infused with a weird low-budget horror sensibility that makes it even the more intriguing.
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★ 10 / 10
The Alien Factory G (killing and destruction)
Jonathan T
The Alien Factory G (killing and destruction) - fantasy and horror Sciencefiction Aliens
The Alien Factory G (killing and destruction) - fantasy and horror
Sciencefiction
Aliens
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