Alien Country, 2024.
Directed by Boston McConnaughey.
Starring Renny Grames, K. C. Clyde, Rachele Brooke Smith, Austin Archer, Dalton Baker, Corbin Alred, and Payton Myler.
SYNOPSIS:
A couple accidentally opens a portal, releasing a horde of alien creatures into their small town. They find themselves in a race against time to save not just their home but the entire galaxy.
The chthonic earthly nature of Country and Western music is right there in its very name, and the American variant of folk music always holds a signpost as being very much of a type. It is a music very much born of its land, which makes the contrast with interstellar and interdimensional invaders an intriguing proposition. Duelling banjos, blazing saddles, and fired up shot-guns versus ancient beasts from the other side of the universe?
It also sounds a little reminiscent of Cowboys versus Aliens, that flick from 13 years back. However, Alien Country, a film very much made out of love for its concept, had only a tiny portion of the budget of that particular Western sci-fi.
The story is rooted in the relationship drama of long-term couple Jimmy, a demolition truck driver and Everly, a C & W singer. Just as the pair are discussing the news that they are expecting a pregnancy, a mysterious portal is somehow opened up and a bunch of fierce alien creatures are let loose in their small town. The fast-talking couple have to work out their differences and work together to save the town and probably the whole world from an apocalyptic fate.
There is some old-school action comedy at play at the heart of the film that makes it a colourful watch. The older conspiracy theorist/stargazer with a gun (Barta Heiner) is amusingly played out for some spaced out laughs. But for me, the plot just got rather confused and did not particularly complement the solid comedic performances at play.
As much as I could grab was the fact that there are good aliens and there are bad aliens, and there is a way to stop the destruction. Mostly the special effects work well and there is a high-speed chase aspect to the film that works well when the chatter cools down – and there is a lot of dialogue involved in the script. Also, quite a bit of country music, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make for a very particular style and feel.
As an old-school adventure that ultimately doesn’t break too many barriers, metaphysical or otherwise, Alien Country is a fun enough movie. Just don’t go expecting anything too far out of this world.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert W Monk
