Viajantes Noturnos

Just for the record, I haven't read the novella this is based on, though I've heard it's much better than this movie. As a movie alone, it's a very fun sci-fi thriller that looks downright incredible. It's some of the best sci-fi movie set design I've seen, and the movie doesn't waste a centimeter. The story is basically about the implications of telekinesis, and uses the Alien "trapped-onboard-a-spaceship-with-malignant-force" set-up to exploit it (with much "sturm und drang"). The film has very well-drawn characters, like the loose-cannon telekinetic (Michael Des Barres), the wistful, elderly professor (John Standing) whose search for the mythical Volkind (itself a pity case from his colleagues) is the reason for the mission, and especially Royd (Michael Preed), whose unique, reclusive existence on the ship offers the main thrust of the story. Highly recommended for fans of sci-fi and obscure cinema.

Why the heck are high-tech spacecraft so misty in the interior!? Apparently, the humidity controls on the ship's air conditioning system were set up to maximum; either that or the filmmakers were trying to rip off Alien. Other than the spectre of mist, the action and the acting was pretty lacking and even grinded down to a halt at times. From the laser beam shooting out the side of the gun (bad, bad editing) to the cornball scenes of the headless, decapitated body choking someone, this movie is filled with flaws, but the worst flaw was the awful mist which seems to condense on my television.

For what it is worth I can watch this movie, and at least not be bored. I saw this one on the sci-fi channel and it had its moments and it is a lot better than the stuff they play on that channel these days. You know the stuff, the stupid computer animated sea creature that attacks and someone like Dean Cain must stop it. This one is sort of a horror version of 2001, not that I am comparing the two, but both feature crazed computers. I think this one is based on a book also, but I have never read it so I can't really say if it follows along with the book for the most part or that it makes drastic changes. This movie has this group chartering a spaceship to find something or other, I can't remember what. The ship is run by this guy who seems to have been in space his whole life so he doesn't take to gravity real well. The computer is like his mother or something and it fears that this group is going to take the son away and so it starts a killing spree. I saw a preview of this and the preview made it look a lot scarier than what I saw. On the other hand it did provide a nice distraction for a while and a few interesting kills as well.

As far as low-budget, sci-fi horror goes, Nightflyers is definitely above the fray. I can't say enough about Catherine Mary Stewarts character: beautiful, courageous, mysterious and intelligent. Her performance also lists as a cut above the average. Sure there are deficiencies in the script; but I thought that Nightflyers was an ambitious little entry into the sci-fi film market and definitely worth the effort. I am anxiously awaiting a potential DVD release.

The silly, uninteresting story (a computer that has the mind of a mother with a fixation on her son?) and the annoying overacting of some of the players are the two most important - but not the only - problems with this very, very minor sci-fi flick. However, the effects are good for what they probably cost, and Catherine Mary Stewart shows indications of being a strong female lead - she deserves a better movie. (*1/2)