Alien Raiders (2008)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

This was a very smartly written screenplay. A creepy type mystery, drama and thriller with a sci-fi flavor all rolled up into one. Even an occasional humorous line here and there. The cast was pretty large and every single actor did a top notch job. The setting was mainly in a grocery store, and most of it at night. On occasion it was difficult to see details. Now I don't know if that was the quality of the film and camera THEY used, MY device, OR the quality of the copy of the film streaming. The special affects were realistic and not over the top. (Very unusual for a small budgeted, independent film)The camera work was creative, offering a variety of angles and shots, slow motion etc...with a minimum of the shaky hand held camera syndrome that I detest so much used so often now a days. The pacing was just fast enough to keep me interested but full enough to make me feel involved and care about what was happening. The score appropriate and added to the scenes. Editing well done. This is the BEST small budgeted independent no major star movie, I have ever seen.

ALIEN RAIDERS is a low budget alien-busting B-movie, set in a shopping mall of all places. It's an entirely derivative film that proudly wears various influences on its sleeve: the dark and shadowy after-hours aisles of INTRUDER; the single-location-under-siege set-up of ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13; the mutating creature from SPLINTER; plus, most notably, the monsters and scenario from THE THING, of which a crucial set-piece or two are borrowed directly.Still, this turns out to be an enjoyable little movie thanks to some strong writing and direction. Director Ben Rock makes a shadowy and atmospheric moment with some unsettling and in-your-face frightening moments when the aliens are exposed, all down to some creepy soundtrack noises. The choreography isn't quite as good, but the film does benefit from a crisp realism and some well-drawn characters. If you're a fan of the genre you might just consider this to be a little-seen gem.

I was given the DVD by someone who movie taste I don't trust at all, especially once I saw the title "ALIEN RAIDER" lol! The saying you can't always judge a book by the cover is apropos in this case for sure. Now onto the review.I found the film to be totally refreshing, engaging, campy and quirky. I love films that aren't afraid to tell a story as they see it. This film isn't trying to be cute, none of the characters are particularly good looking, over the top scene stealing Actors. They seem like everyday people on a mission, thrust into a situation that they really all agree on regardless of their individual approach. A motley crew for sure, but their single objective bonds them and makes them endearing right away.Alien Raider was Sci-Fi, Science, a little Monster flick rolled into one. It was Terror more than Horror. I could totally appreciate the fact that they used very little if any CGI (awful stuff) even in big budget films, it looks off to me. No one seems to use it properly, not saying I know, for I know so little about the process but I would prefer the old Jules Vern stuff lol! The action, story, timing well paced at no point did I lose interest, actually the opposite I stayed with it to the end. Which wasn't great but by the time it arrived I felt so connected to the art of story telling, Actors and Filmmakers, it had to end some how, it didn't bother me how it ended. I had been paid off.Filmmakers, it's about telling a story, for if you can tell a story. Then you will know what to write (technical). Again this film tells a story and so writers can write based on a story told, Actors can lock into their role in the story which explains the solid performances. It is the base for everything else because Filmmakers really take serious what they do like all Professionals. We all want to be proud of what we do. How many films do you watch now and it seems like it is all about money and image? So that the only story really being told is I'm gorgeous, you're not, I'm rich, you're not. This film isn't about that. It simply tells a story as they all see it and it that alone it is very good.

******THERE ARE SPOILERS HERE. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU DON"T WANT TO BE SUSPRISED****** While the movie plot was alright, the acting was extremely poor in the ending, with some defects in the middle (they didn't notice the man had gone for the gun until after several scenes. there is also a large gap in the story on how the "infestation" came to be, or how the hero's first noticed them. in the ending of the movie, an infected man (the man with all the blood and the very deformed face) was trying to kill one of the hero's at the end of the movie with half a dozen police just watching the fight. then the main hero decides to rip out the parasite and seems to be trying to keep it from his chest(again, no officer interference) then he says shoot it, and they blast him and the alien parasite, and then the woman hero takes up a gun that had dropped and puts a few rounds in his chest. (again, no police interference). then the "king" parasite attacks one of the hostage charters. to be honest, its something I will not watch again. the story is loose, the acting of the main charters is alright, but in the end, with due respect, its better then a lot of movies I've seen on the Wilmar $1 rack. hope this helps