APOLLO 18
NASA's canceled trip to the moon in the 1970s is the basis for this found-footage-style picture exploring the urban legend surrounding that mission -- what if Apollo 18 actually did occur and the proof of extraterrestrial life exists on film? Wanted's Timur Bekmambetov produces the film, with Spanish director Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego taking on helming duties. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego
Cast: Lloyd Owen, Warren Christie
Release Date: Sep 02, 2011
Rated PG-13 for some disturbing sequences and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 26 min.
Genres: Suspense/Thriller
Review:
I’m generally a big fan of the “found footage” films; the genre is just a lot of fun for me. Typically though the films are done on a very small budget and really kind of hit some primal nerve that really digs deep. Apollo 18 sounds like an interesting concept but once we get into the meat of the film it just meanders along, hitting very obvious points and providing maybe one or 2 jump scares. I’m not sure if it could have worked with a better set up or if the antagonist of the film just come off as too silly to be scary. The concept works and I appreciated the mixing of actual archival footage with the film giving it’s a semblance of authenticity. The cast does what’s it’s asked and they fit their parts well but the roles are all terribly underwritten. The story is fairly straightforward and just feels like Blair Witch NASA. It never grabs you and is only mildly interesting making a short film feel incredibly long.
D
