Thirst

So many ways out. They've got highways a quarter mile away, cars, ATVs, people within walking distance, helicopters, yet they still can't get out. No one seems to be too upset that they're being slowly picked off by this reject from the Transformers (too small, not tough enough) and literally sucked dry of their precious bodily fluids. Everyone in the movie is pretty nonchalant, in fact, with time to be jokey, have fist fights, develop romantic relationships. There's little to recommend this one except the scene with the chopper.

THIRST opens with the crash of an alien craft. Something has arrived, quickly relieving some poor extra of his life.

Next, we're introduced to a group of hikers, preparing for a week-long excursion into the same place that the creature landed. It's a "second chance" hike for young offenders. Their adult guides take away their cell phones, drugs, etc.

Not long into the hike, the not-so impressive extraterrestrial introduces itself, causing chaos and death.

Several factors pretty much sink this production. The older actors who play the guides are killed off quickly. The problem is that they're also the better performers! The younger survivors just turn this into another mindless, teen monster movie. Also, the sub-par CGI, as always, looks so cartoonish that it takes us out of the movie every time it appears! Granted, it's cheaper than practical effects. However, it not only looks fake, but jarringly so!

Still, this movie might be enjoyable as a bleary-eyed, late night's entertainment...

RELEASED TO TV IN 2015 and directed by Greg Kiefer, "Thirst" is about a 'Second Chance' boot camp for wayward youths in the New Mexican desert wherein the group stumbles upon a formidable alien creature and her freshly hatched infant. Horror ensues.

The plot is borrowed from "Flu Bird Horror" and "Grizzly Park" (both from 2008), but lacks the meaty subtext of the former (I'm not joking) and the humor of the latter. The desert wilderness cinematography is magnificent while the no-name cast takes the material seriously and performs with gusto. John Redlinger, who's reminiscent of Chris Pine, plays the youthful trail guide and arises as the main protagonist. Clare Niederpruem, who looks like a younger Kate Mara, plays one of the troubled kids who inspires Redlinger's character.

The vicious alien monster has a centaur-like form and is interestingly biomechanical in nature, which is never explained. Someone insisted that the mechanical elements reveal that it MUST have originated from Earth. No, all it reveals is that the creature is curiously made-up of android-like components (the arrogance of some to think that Earth is the only planet of the gazillions of planets in the Universe to contain intelligent beings that can produce technical machineries).

Bottom line: Sure, it's a hackneyed TV horror flick with a beginning that borrows from "The Blob" (1958) and an ending that borrows from "Aliens" (1986), but it has its unique points and works well for what it is. The score by Sean Jackson us superlative.

THE MOVIE RUNS 87 minutes and was shot in Utah. WRITERS: Elizabeth Hansen & Greg Kiefer. ADDITIONAL CAST: Jes Macallan & Karl Makinen play the adult instructors while Ryan Zimmer, Cardiff Gerhardt, Ashley Santos & Bryan Dayley appear as other delinquent juveniles. Christina Thurmond and Mike Law are also on hand.

GRADE: B

I'm left scratching my head wondering why some people seem to have a hate on for this film.

Thirst is not going to win any awards but, that said, its an enjoyable, fun, sci fi action romp. The casting for this film is on target, the pacing improves as the film progresses and for a relatively low budget film, the special effects are pretty decent.

There's also a subtle nod to Aliens II towards the closing scenes, for those paying attention.

I was never bored watching this flick. Its a great one for a wet Saturday or Sunday indoors with chips, dip and few beers. Seriously, ignore the detractors and give it a go. Seven out of ten from me.

What would you get if you take the creature from Alien and give it A Terminator skeleton well other than a lawsuit from James Cameron you get this metal alien. This alien crashes into earth and starts feeding on some young adults in a second chance rehab program in a remote area. One by one they get picked off until they decide to fight back.

This one is more action than horror. Looks like they had a decent budget though. The characters are paper thin. I just watched it and I can't remember them.

Nothing new or original here. They couldn't even pick an original title!