High Plains Invaders (2009)

Truly Dreadful Film

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

A small Western town finds themselves under attack by a race of mutant alien insects looking for a rare chemical found in the area and try to protect themselves from the creatures before they kill them off to get at the chemical.This one turned out to be a pretty decent Sci-Fi Channel original but met with a bit more flaws than normal. Among the film's flaws here is the rather off pacing along the way here that tends to get really off-track quite easily with some useless divergents here. This starts here with the continued placement of the survivor's attempts to get away from being trapped in a building, so there's not a lot of attacks and confrontations, really resorting more to them sneaking around without being seen than having the bugs do away with them. Though this action is far more realistic a battle-plan considering the situation at present, that leaves this one with far too many scenes of the group running in the shadows or hiding behind the broken equipment as well as barricading themselves away formulating plans here that there's not a whole lot of time spent doling out attacks. Other problematic pacing issues are featured with the continued storyline about the condemned man seeking repentance every single time he's together with the others during a break from the bug action is a little tiring, the completely ridiculous feature of the bounty hunter more concerned with bringing criminals to justice rather than recognize the gravity of the situation and how nearly everyone is so concerned with apologizing rather than surviving their predicament which seems a tad off while holding off attempts at confrontations so the gore is almost gone and is rarely featured, a rather strange inclusion. Plus, the continuous double-crossing gets old the fifth time it happens and the reasoning for the bugs' arrival is nice if slightly rushed and seems like an afterthought, all of which hold this back. Still, this one had some really enjoyable action efforts here as the main attack sequence is nicely handled, with the strange beast walking into town resulting in a great gunfight as they try to stop it before it begins drilling into the ground while the later confrontations in the town as the group attempts to destroy them come off just as much fun with the explosive blasts and gunfights against the creatures who manage to fight back. After the break in the middle, it's got enough action on the back- end to justify it's break as there's the rather fun attack at the camp that leads into the trip back to town where the action into the finale which makes this one quite fun while it gets to the action scenes here. As well as the fact that the creatures themselves look good and get enough of a realistic touch here along with the actual plan to defeat them all being fine positives here, but it is a slightly-flawed effort.Rated R: Graphic Violence and Language

This movie was actually better than I had anticipated. I mean, a sci-fi western movie, not really the best of settings in my book. But still, "High Plains Invaders" manage to surprise me and keep me thoroughly entertained.The story is pretty much straight out of the "how-to-make-a-sci-fi-movie" book. Robotic aliens have come to Earth in search for some materials to harvest, in this case uranium, and their existence collide with the local residents in the area, here being a town set in the mid-late 1800's. Of course the aliens have far superior technology and are overcome with the humans. Duh! "High Plains Invaders" actually have quite good CGI effects, of course, it is not in the likes of "Sky Line", "Battle: Los Angeles", and such blockbuster budgets, but still, they did manage to pull it off quite well. The aliens were nicely made and nicely animated, though a tad too much a rip-off of the bugs in "Starship Troopers".When I watched this movie, I didn't realize James Marsden was in it, and when I did see him I was trying to figure out just who he was, because his face was familiar, though I couldn't remember his name. And I was trying to sort out if it really was the guy playing Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" show, just in an older, more mature version. And it was. And I must say, he was really good in this movie. I think it is actually the only thing I have seen him in aside from "Buffy". Aside from Marsden, then the movie had some good enough performances from the actors that was in the movie.Consider this a "poor man's" "Cowboys & Aliens" if you will. A great enough movie, though with a very mainstream and predictable storyline. You know how the movie will end as soon as you play it. But still, it is worth a watch and it is entertaining. "High Plains Invaders" would actually be a good warm-up movie before sitting down to watch "Cowboys & Aliens", just to get you in that sci-fi/western combo mood.

Aliens invade a small town in westernville land. That's it for the plot. There is a lame attempt at a love interest sub plot but it never takes off and just seems like wasted lines.This movie felt like I was watching grown men playing 'lets pretend' out in the back garden. It just had nothing to it that you could believe in. There was no single point throughout the entire film where there was an emotional connection with the audience. The acting was for the most part ridiculous not just hammy and poor but ridiculous. The female bounty hunter was just... I can't think of a superlative to meet so I'll just say miscast. Shouting out her corny lines in this schoolyard westernville town cheap TV accent.The sound was pretty decent. The lighting I did not like. I think maybe a tint or some basic attempt at contrast was needed but it was all very samey and bland. The CGI was just passable not good but it was better than cardboard (although not a funny). All in all a film with very little charm or wit to carry off the lower budget. If you want to see a similar theme in a different setting (i.e. not westernville land town) look for Alien Raiders to see how a film of this kind can be made so much better on similar (if not smaller) budgets.

Interesting flick. Original plot line. Mediorce cgi. James Marsters (Spike, Buffy the vampire series) plays the lead character in a sci/western about invading aliens. Faced with certain death, Marsters, (Sam) chooses to fight the alien invasion with his own resourses.I truly wish that the Canadian company that produced this had invested the money to make this film correctly. The actors have nothing to apologize for, they did the best with a small budget. This film is worth a watch. Pay attention to the acting of the actress playing the bounty hunter Rose. Other than Marsters, she is one to watch.