Scared to Death

First of all, I know it's petty - but the title. We all know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, so you shouldn't base your opinion on a film's title. But 'Scared to Death' sounds more like some psychological horror or slasher film. It's not. It's a 'monster munching' movie, more akin to a (low budget!) 'Alien' rip-off.

Anyway, there's a monster rampaging round an American city, murdering hapless extras and the police are baffled until a local private detective teams up with the obligatory love interest to save the day.

There's not an awful lot to say about the film. As I mentioned, it's set on Earth, therefore there are no outstanding science fiction sets to speak of. The acting and dialogue is passable at best and there's really nothing you haven't seen before if you're a fan of the genre.

I will mention I actually quite liked the creature itself. It reminded me of something out of the mind of HR Giger (who actually designed the xenomorph from 'Alien'), but it's ruined by budget constrains preventing it from being particularly well animated in its facial movements, making it end up like just a man in a rubber suit from a 70s 'Dr Who.'

If you really want to watch yet another 'monster movie' then there are definitely worse. It's not offensively bad, but it's not great either, relying on long scenes of victims quietly walking around deserted places before ultimately meeting their doom. Even fast forwarding them until the kill itself made the film drag. Just watch 'Alien' or 'Species.'

Oh, and there's a bit which made me laugh and think they ripped off 'The Terminator.' Then I realised this film was made four years before that classic. So, er, fair play to 'Scared to Death' for beating James Cameron to the punch on that one!