By Romey Norton October 3, 2024
Alien Love is a sci-fi drama directed by Simon Olive and produced by Nathan Hill. Hill plays the lead role of astronaut Ryan Van Hillsong, who returns from space a hero, but fails to report a serious alien encounter. His time in space has changed him, and now he must face the strange consequences of his actions. Impacting his life, his future and his marriage.
Review
The story ventures into the depths of space travel and the complexities it can have on human relationships. When Ryan returns he’s not the same man that left - he’s looking for answers and so is his pregnant wife Saide.
Because the film’s storyline isn’t complicated, it’s easy to have it on whilst you’re cooking or doing house-hold chores. Daytime shows and films similar to this are meant to be formulaic and repetitive, and fade into the background. But that doesn’t mean they can’t also be absolutely brilliant. The filming is great - the indie production pulls off the unpolished aesthetic. And in true Hill style there are some naughty bedroom scenes, heating up that alien love. They break up the talking - or lack thereof.
Hill gives a great performance with this complex character. His actions will make you question his motives and intentions from the get-go. Ira Chakraborty also delivers a commendable performance as Sadie, handling the emotional turmoil well - especially towards the end. Both characters are compelling and will keep you invested throughout.
What lets the film down is the pace. To say the film is only 75 minutes, it feels a lot longer.
Some sections are slow, and you’re waiting for something dramatic to happen. The premise is strong and the film could have developed the script and pushed the characters further in many areas. Space exploration is a genre where you can get away with a lot and feel Alien Love plays it relatively safe.
This doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching, because it is. The film is thought-provoking and will lead to some good discussions. The CGI and costumes can be a little cheesy - but hey, it’s okay for a low-budget. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, and allows the audience to see it as a silly sci-fi. (Who doesn’t love slow-mo shots of a man walking away from a helicopter?).
The ending did make me laugh, the ridiculously cheap alien costume and baby alien we’re almost over-the-top. But it still holds its own as I was intrigued how the film was going to end - you’ll have to watch to find out.
Alien Love is a simple story of a man’s journey of self-discovery after an unexplainable life event and his life changing forever. If you like day-time TV, like soap operas, Alien Love will be right up your street.
Star Rating
Alien Love is available on digital platforms
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