Now this was a film that I learned about when looking to see what was playing at the Gateway Film Center. I'm a fan of the writer, director and star, Joe Begos. This film flew under the radar until I saw friends on social media saying this needs to be seen in the theater. My week lined up and I was able to catch it. I did know a bit of the synopsis ahead of seeing it.
Synopsis: a perfect storm of lousy news sees out-of-work filmmaking Jimmy Lang (Begos) spiral into a bender, during which he claims to have been abducted by aliens. Fearing their return, he contacts his old friend to help him gear up for war.
We jump right in with a point of view shot of our lead, Jimmy. He is out on his balcony, smoking marijuana and relaxing. He talks to Lexi (Riley Dandy) who got out of work late and this is going to push their plans back. Jimmy tells her to just come over and they'll figure it out from there. He settles down on the couch, has drinks and smokes more weed, while watching porn. That's when he feels what seems to be an earthquake. This has happened a couple more times. He realizes that it seems centered in his bedroom. He investigates.
Jimmy has an unexplained experience where he's floating above his bed and he cannot move his limbs. He loses a long stretch of time. He wakes up to missed texts, phone calls and voicemails from Lexi. He can't make sense of what happened though. This leads him to old interviews of John Redgrave (James Russo), a guy that he and his best friend used to watch. He claimed he was abducted by aliens. What happened to him is eerily similar to what happened to Jimmy.
This causes our lead to reach that friend, Stiggs Randolph (Matt Mercer). They had a falling out when Stiggs decided to get sober. Jimmy is angry with him as he's currently out of work as a filmmaker since they were partners. Jimmy continues to do research as well as prepare himself for the night as he expects his visitors to return. This involves getting out a chainsaw, a large knife, machete and even a shotgun. He also drinks, smokes and snorts drugs.
Stiggs then just shows up, complicating Jimmy's plans. The attack happens soon after. These two need to resolve their issues before it is too late. The pressure is on as this apartment becomes a war zone. There is an underlying question though, is this really happening or are we seeing the hallucination of a drug fueled bender, as the synopsis said.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is by bringing back up that I'm a fan of Begos and his works. I blindly went to see Bliss in the theater. I was blown away. I then saw VFW soon after at the Nightmares Film Festival. Christmas Bloody Christmas is one that I had fun with and I dug Almost Human. He has one film I'm missing, The Mind's Eye, which I've heard people talk highly about. Getting to see his new film in the theater was something I didn't want to miss.
A disclaimer: While I acknowledge the vulgar language in his previous films is extreme, similar to Rob Zombie's, I also recognize that alcohol consumption and surroundings can influence word choice. The characters, like the filmmakers Jimmy and Stiggs, are less professional and can use such language without consequence.
Now that I have that out of the way, I have to say that what they're doing here is impressive. There is a little vignette at the end of the showing where Eli Roth and Begos walk around the latter's apartment, which is crazy because that's where he lives. This was filmed in his home. Everything that was done was practical, which makes it even more stunning. What he was able to do with a small budget and make it look as good as he did is a true credit to his Begos' abilities. With the aliens as the villain, it feels like a vulgar throwback to the 1950s.
Let's then just finish out discussing the filmmaking techniques. The cinematography and framing also help to hide the seams. One thing he did was that when the shotgun was used, it was always pressed against something. We're seeing the 'blood' spray so instead of using CGI, they could do it that way. That's genius. I don't love the point of view shots that we get to start and end, but I don't hate getting into the mind of our lead. The soundtrack is also relentless, much like the pacing so that worked as well.
The story is simple with Jimmy's life spiraling downward due to drug and alcohol addiction. He's alienating everyone, hitting rock bottom. If he is abducted by aliens, but no one believes him due to these reasons. Stiggs, his friend, only believes him when Jimmy is blacked out and Stiggs himself breaks sobriety. The story leaves open the possibility that Jimmy's experiences are not real, but a product of his intoxication. The author prefers to think it's real but enjoys the element of doubt.
All that is left then is the acting performances. Begos excels as the lead, a fresh face in a main role for me, but perfectly embodying Jimmy. Mercer complements him well. They, along with Russo, are the only visible actors, with Russo effectively portraying figures from Jimmy's past videos. Dandy, Josh Ethier, and others complete the cast.
In conclusion, this is a remarkable achievement for Begos, proving his talent for practical effects and compelling storytelling on a limited budget. Despite the explicit language that might not appeal to everyone, the film's gritty aesthetic, relentless pacing, and ambiguous narrative-leaving the audience to question the reality of Jimmy's alien encounters-make for a uniquely engaging experience. The strong performances from Begos and Mercer further elevate this genre piece, making it a must-see for fans of independent horror and a testament to Begos' continued growth as a filmmaker.
My Rating: 8 out of 10.
