| To say I am profoundly impressed with UFO would be an understatement; the best cinematic experiences, in my eyes, are the ones that don't leave you once you're back home from the cinema or when the DVD is turned off and certainly UFO falls into that category. What may seem on the surface as a mindless action film, is in reality something much darker, much more intricate. It achieves that rare feat of servicing the action junkie in me whilst engaging my brain on an entirely different level. I totally accept that this film works as a thriller, an action movie and even at times as a <more> comedy and a horror film! In fact the film makers have thrown everything at us, even the kitchen sink, and in doing so have created an inspiring visceral experience that has left me not only wanting to talk about this movie, to discuss and explore it, but also the desire to see it again, and look at the magician's other hand, the hand he doesn't initially show us, I have a feeling there's something there reserved for the more intrigued and observant viewer.UFO plays out with five central characters, all introduced to us at a hundred miles an hour during a hectic night out; the next morning they awake to find themselves in a blackout, all power and phones are gone, without an explanation. The radio offers no clues, only static and this is where the genius of UFO really kicks in because the way everyone reacts feels very real, so real in fact, it adds to the terrifying feel of the film because you believe it, you find yourself putting yourself in the characters' shoes. What would you do in that scenario? What could you do? Do you actually need to do anything at all? Isn't it best to simply wait it out, surely the power will be back on soon, some explanation on the news will explain what's happened and everyone will go about their lives. But what if it doesn't come back on? Has something sinister occurred? Terrorism? Environmental disaster? Without the news, the internet, any means of communication, how would you ever know what's going on? I simply adore this premise and it does lead me to my only gripe about the film, the title, UFO. It's such a shame that the business has reached a point that a film of this level of sheer class calls itself, UFO. It gives the game away somewhat wouldn't you say? I'd be interested to discover if the writer originally called the script UFO or whether it is indeed the enlightened idea of some marketing expert somewhere, either way, it takes the edge of a mysterious opening that would have gone down in cult history had you no idea a massive UFO was about to turn up. Having gone on that rant, I of course realise the trailer gives this moment away! Once the city size UFO turns up, we don't look back, the film hits a sixth gear and doesn't ask you if you're coming along, it sprints up to you, picks you up, throws you in the front seat and puts the accelerator to the floor! And if you think this is going to be a Hollywood, classic JCVD style experience, think again. You've got the Hollywood production value at an independent level sure you've got the best fight sequence I've seen in years yes I'm serious there is a single shot that is one of the best I've scene how they pulled that off I'll never know you have some heart stopping shocks, one in particular rocked my soul ! and some incredible action sequences. But it's the story that shines through here, unpredictable, utterly unnerving, dark, tense and unforgiving. The film makers don't care what you want to see, this is reality amidst a Sci-Fi story, Hollywood this ain't! Whether you love UFO or despise it if you despise it, more fool you you can't argue that it isn't an original story, it's something you haven't seen before and how often can you honestly say that after watching anything? <less> |
