Alien Invasion: S.U.M.1

Alien Invasion: S.U.M.1_360P

,😘😘

Glacially slow pacing, a nonsensical narrative, and annoyingly obstreperous cut scenes are at the heart of this sleeper (not a hidden gem, but tranquilizing). SUM1's relationship with the bunker rat provides the only ethos in the entire film. The end is more of a letdown than a surprise. I know sometimes you've got a free night and you think, "I'll just put something on. It's got to be better than nothing, right?" You'd be wrong. I was wrong. Please: Don't be wrong.

I signed up just to say this was terrible. I watch movies all the time but this one compelled me the most to make a review. Honestly....don't watch this. I'm never going to get that time back and neither will you.

I'll keep it short, the poster was more exciting than the film

Avoid at all cost! Story, Plot, Pacing... the makers have never heard of things like that. Decent camera, sound and music, but we take tthat for granted these days, do we not? Definitely in the all time bottom 3 I ever watched. And I'm in my fifth decade.

The movie looks to be a shocking film from the outset. Unfortunately it doesn't surprise anyone, and continues to be disappointing. Iwan is clearly trying the "life after GOT" approach. But he just doesn't convince. His stock acting style in GOT and other series was the "surprised wide eyed menacing look" and the "quiet lad who says nothing look" which feature here quite often. So his complete lack of acting diversity sadly shines through. He had moments of promise in GOT but the movie industry is savage, so I'm not confident about seeing him in much beside this sort of thing. Anyway, woeful movie and just badly written, maybe that was the problem. Character development flawed.

This is not a sci-fi action film. It is more a slowpaced sci-fi mystery. We follow a young solider as he does a 100 day duty in a defence tower, protecting the inhabitants of an underground city. After aliens attacked and killed most of humanity, they now live in that city (maybe others like it?). The action is slow paced but actually it was a nice departure from the Marvel/DC/JJ Abrums/Michael Bay scifi action-extraordinaire-super-mega-explosions. It follows the young man "S.U.M.1", and his mental health, who is totally isolated from his world aside from his commanding officer and one guy who comes to repair stuff. He starts to question the reason he is there as he finds evidence what he has been told may or may not be true. With a reasonable, if a little predictable, twist at the end. Iwan is fantastic to watch - not to mention some may like the * scenes (sorry nothing more then buttocks on display!). His portrayal of the character felt spot on. I guess the main things that really let this movie down are a couple of things brought up but not really explained. One are his dreams, seemed that could have been used for a greater reveal but just 'happened' and then moved on. There is an indication he may be different to the others - a physical change also happens - but again no real explanation as to what this means. Overall I think this movie really needed some world setting. You are not given any real idea on what happened, why it happened or any context as to why these soldiers need to spend only 100 days and why they are on their own, rather than a couple or more. Although it is alluded to there used to be 6 at a time. Despite that, I didn't find it as awful as its 3 point something rating would suggest.

My main reasons for seeing 'Alien Invasion: S.U.M.1' were because there are some interesting alien invasion films out there and for Iwan Rheon. Am a big fan of 'Game of Thrones', and, despite not mentioning him a lot when every episode of the show has so many standout moments, great elements and performances, Rheon is very good in it indeed. 'Alien Invasion: S.U.M. 1' unfortunately didn't really deliver. It is far from terrible and has some good things. There are also far worse films, especially fellow films made on a low budget and as an overall whole. Don't even think it is the worst alien invasion film, or one of the worst. It is just one of those films where potential, while not large, was decent, as it was not a bad idea at all even if unoriginal. The execution just didn't work and that is genuinely saddening to say. Lets start with what 'Alien Invasion: S.U.M.1' does right. Rheon is good and the best thing about it. In fact the acting on the most part is quite competent. Another particularly good asset was the ending, a rare part of the film that stopped the viewer from being completely bored and was actually unexpected and pleasantly surprising. It engaged me while also having me sad that it took so long to get there. The low budget does show sure. Editing is less than crisp at times, especially in the action-oriented scenes, and the drabness can be taken too far. It is decently shot though and looks pretty atmospheric. Unfortunately, what 'Alien Invasion: S.U.M.1' does wrong eclipses the good things. The conflict is far from aggressive and has no involvement or menace, it even doesn't look particularly good. The monotony and dullness of the main character's everyday routine is taken too far agreed in the story execution, which is essentially an over-stretched short film with a lot of padding, too much of it unnecessary, and scenes that drag badly with no tension or suspense so to speak. Things do get silly and too much is underdeveloped or left in the air in an incomplete way. Despite that the acting is not so bad, the characters fail to engage which makes it difficult to like them let alone empathise or relate. The dialogue, which is far too exposition-heavy, is a lot of gibberish rambling and doesn't flow very well, while the more action-oriented scenes are clumsily choreographed and the anti-thesis of thrilling or exciting. Overall, has its moments (Rheon and the ending coming off best) but very dull on the most part. 4/10 Bethany Cox

As aliens have taken over the world (if you see any) a young soldier in asked to be a hero and save us from these non seeing creatures. This German-made English langueges Alien movie is a mess from the beginning.