This is a low budget movie. In many ways low budget movies are a lot more interesting than most multimillion dollar products because they can't cover up a bad story, plot holes and ridiculous acting with expensive computer wizardry so they have to rely on what has always been the core of every film from the very beginning: a good story, a well written script, a director with a vision and great actors. The special effects are maybe not of Michael Bay standards, but if you like that stuff and you don't care about the complete lack of storytelling or character development and the extremely two-dimensional acting often seen in those films you are probably not the right audience for Alien Vengeance. If you are interested in films that go beyond the emptiness that we find in the multiplexes most of the time, if you love movies made with love for the art of movie-making instead of for the money, if you can't get enough of the works of directors like Lloyd Kaufman, H.G. Lewis, Jean Rollin, Andrew Repasky McElhinney or Jess Franco. Than I'd strongly recommend Alien Vengeance to you.
As far as I know this is the first feature length film of Jason Liqori. Liqori has been a very prolific photographer for many years before taking on directing, and this shows in his cinematography. The camera-angles are sometimes very surprising, heightening the atmosphere of the movie. He has assembled a cast of young actors along with some veterans in the industry, most importantly fan favorite Debbie Rochon who, as always, delivers a performance that still makes me wonder how it is possible she doesn't have the fame a lot of less talented actors have gained. But the one who really steals the show is Melanie Robel as Jan, the central figure in the story. I won't give away too much if I say Jan is quite a disturbed person, due to her harsh life's circumstances. The way she slowly keeps falling apart emotionally during the movie is portrayed by Melanie Robel so horrifyingly believable, that it reminds me of Annabella Sciorra's brilliant performance in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. Closely watch her also when she is in the frame but without dialog and you see what I mean. Director Jason Liqori makes use of the special effects his budget allows inventively, and they work well because the movie does not rely on them and probably even more because he makes such brilliant use of his good eye for cinematography and fantastic choices in when to show and when not to show events. This becomes clear immediately during the opening scene, which could -and in lesser hands would- have been depicted in an over the top sleaze- and/or gore fest, but Liqori's restraint is extremely more effective and drags the viewer into the film with an in-your-face attitude that would otherwise have ruined the entire atmosphere and the empathy we now have for the central character of Jan.
So if your interest goes beyond the popcorny fun of ridiculously expensive but emotionally empty blockbusters I'd highly recommend this one!
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