Review: Aliens: Zone of Silence

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While news of alien abductions and UFO sightings seem to enter the mainstream in intervals, the horror industry has churned out a near constant stream of encounter films for years. While many of these have proven to be terrifying endeavors, like The Fourth Kind and Dark Skies, some have used far too many effects, leaving a product that is less than desirable, like Skinwalker Ranch. But still, the fear of the unknown has stood the test of time, whether through creepy atmosphere or the fact that if and when they come, we'll all have little power to stop whatever they choose to do. The latest film to enter the string of alien flicks is Aliens: Zone of Silence, which is currently streaming on Netflix.

Following a young woman searching for her brother after he disappears in a Mexican desert, annoyingly named the "Zone of Silence." Aliens: Zone of Silence is far too similar to alien flicks before it. Like a mixture of last year's forgettable but entertaining Phoenix Forgotten and the indie horror film Banshee Chapter, this search-and-rescue mission has an ending that anyone could have seen coming, but without the horror that'd allow you to overlook it. It stars Sarah Hestler (American Satan), Peter Gesswein (A Plea for Tenderness) and Jed Maheu (51).


Aliens: Zone of Silence might be worth your time if you're looking to lose an hour and 20 minutes of your life with little recollection of how it was spent. But otherwise, it's best avoided. Less likeable and shallower characters leave this half-baked flick feeling like a dud. Sure it's not offensively bad, but in some ways, maybe it should have been. Then maybe it'd infamously be remembered for something; even if that thing is laughable.


Sure, Phoenix Forgotten was just the desert version of the Blair Witch Project, but at least the characters felt more entertaining and the scares were at least somewhat adequate. But, this bland copycat never really makes any progression or moves that haven't been done better a hundred times over. So much of it relies on shaky, broken cameras and bright lights in the sky that the shallow characters never seem to be in the great of danger.


The fact is, Aliens: Zone of Silence is just plain and boring. There are no thrills, no interesting characters and little to zero plot line. Horror films don't have to be perfect, but they should at least fulfill something. By the time Aliens ends though, you'll have instantly moved on, having forgotten what you wasted time on and that is almost worse than wishing you had your time back. 4 out 10.

Best in Show: Horror Sequels (Part II of II)

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5. The Descent: Part 2

Most horror fans and critics agree that The Descent is a modern classic. It terrified audiences and thanks to superb acting and crazy effects, the claustrophobic horror film catapulted its way into the hearts of all. But, the lesser talker about, yet still adequate follow up to The Descent deserves viewers' attention. Like the first, it offers up completely terrifying cave creatures and all of the original's claustrophobic atmosphere. The Descent: Part 2 is a direct continuation of the first's story and is nearly as unsettling, which given it being a sequel, is saying a lot. While the group venturing into the deadly cave may not be as compelling, there are still plenty to root for and when a surprise entry comes about, fans of the original will undoubtedly be won over.

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4. The Conjuring 2

The Conjuring 2 got a surprising amount of flak from horror fans attempting to be edgier. By disliking the sequel to the critically acclaimed original, fans attempted to differentiate themselves from casual viewers and critics who applauded the sequel's continuation of stellar camera work and genuine scares. But, not even that coalition could halt the success of the second Conjuring. This movie is impressive and to search for flaws, people had to really stretch. This is one of the few horror sequels that keeps the majority of themes from the original and carries them over well. It's deeply terrifying and worth every second of its longer runtime.



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3. Scream 2

There is something so timeless about Scream. Simple, yet satirical, Scream ages better than most horror classics and this is partially thanks to its nearly as amazing sequels. Scream 2 is perhaps the movie at its best; grander and just as quickly paced, the follow up to Scream, spans over a college campus and features a lovable twist and some fun chase scenes. Scream 2 also hones in on the first's comedy and makes plenty of bold moves to be even funnier and on-the-nose. Scream 2 is definitely comparable to the first and with all of the same actors attached to it; it definitely feels like a trip down nostalgia lane.

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2. Saw II

While the first Saw build viral excitement, it is the film's sequel where the movie really comes into its own. Looking past the shock value of the original, Saw II is arguably more entertaining and more superior. Featuring far more suspense, a host of new characters and a twisting and turning plot, Saw II opened so many doors for the franchise. The traps are creative, the characters are unlovable and as they maneuver through the death house, it's easy to become captivated in their tiny world. Saw II is an underrated gem in the horror universe, often overlooked by the regarded first and the more over-the-top follow ups. But, this sequel, with all of its sickening yellow lighting and choppy rooms, is the real gem of the series.

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1. Aliens

Aliens, the well-known, highly regarded sequel to Alien, is - by some accounts - even better than the first. Utilizing plenty of special effects, a host of new talent, including a pretty great child star, is pretty much an action-packed perfection. In fact, the aptly titled Aliens could have just as easily been named Sigourney Weaver vs Space Monsters Pt. II and I'm pretty sure the audience and today's viewers would still love it. This is the type of movie that, even if the graphics get a little wonky over time, is still a must see and worthy rewatch. Aliens is nonstop suspense and excitement and is a pinnacle sequel to an already great horror-sci-fi film.

 

 

Best in Show: Horror Sequels (Part I of II)

Horror sequels get a bad rap. For horror fans, the audacity of sequels seems unimaginable and wrong. Add on a few more editions and filmmakers basically become criminals of the entertainment industry. But, when a horror sequel works, it can easily become a shining star and rather than being recognized as a standard, is instead listed as an exception to the rule. Fortunately though, for those fans who want to see stories continue on and for those hoping these stories are told equally well to the originals, options do exist and the future of horror sequels isn't dead yet. This week's list covers the best horror sequels (and two, kind of three, prequels that truly deserve acknowledgment) out there. The movies listed are direct sequels, following the original (fair note that many are more recent, given the ability to stand the test of time not typically granted to classics).




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10. Wrong Turn 2: Dead End

It's no secret that the Wrong Turn franchise is pretty trashy. But, unlike movies that get the "camp" label, Wrong Turn is criminally underrated given its exaggerated storylines and over the top acting and death scenes. Not taken seriously, the sequel to the original Wrong Turn is an impressive endeavor with a creative approach. Following a group of reality show contestants who must survive the now well-known cannibals of the West Virginia forest, Dead End is hilariously weird and offers a plethora of jump scares and laughs.

 

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9. Final Destination 2

Like Wrong Turn, the Final Destination franchise has received a lot of flak. But, with an original featuring strong performances and a particularly creative storyline, the first and its later sequels deserve a lot more credit. The sequel - which capitalized on everyone's fears of highway accidents, is particularly good as it left behind some of the more sinister undertones of the first movie in exchange for some slight exaggeration and comedy. Final Destination 2 also deserves additional points for playing with the "final girl" trope and featuring some pretty insane, while not necessarily logistical, death scenes.





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8. Ouija: Origin of Evil

While I did say I was specifically sticking to horror sequels, the prequel to the awful Ouija deserves recognition. Unlike the first's overly polished camera work and plot, Ouija: Origin of Evil is filled with personalized time pieces and amazingly suspenseful moments. Ouija: Origin of Evil is the rare follow up that completely blows the original out of the water. Not only does it ignore the mythology of the first and advantageously grasps its prequel setting, but Ouija: Origin of Evil offers truly terrifying scares. The one question it'll pose viewers to ask is: "what original?"





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7. Paranormal Activity 2

There's something about the second Paranormal Activity film that is especially starling. Like the viral success of the first, Paranormal Activity 2 utilizes the relativized home security cameras. Unlike the first though, the action and dialogue of this sequel is packed with far more action. From spooky childhood stories to actual movement on camera, the somewhat predictable sequel is truly terrifying; it's larger budget and gathered collection of faith propelling it to success. Paranormal Activity 2 deserves more given that it literally surrounds the events around the first and builds on the mythology, providing everything the filmmakers needed to make a larger franchise,



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6. Insidious: Chapter 3

Okay, so the first part of this list actually has quite a few prequels on it. I assure that this is the final one and while there are a lot of prequels that deserve to be seen and received, this list is definitely about sequels. But, unlike the direct follow ups of Ouija and Paranormal Activity, it is the third film in the Insidious franchise that deserves some attention. Insidious: Chapter 3 is a truly terrifying adventure, following a rather tepid sequel and building on the first's concrete mythology. And, while each follow up to the original has been less well-received, Chapter 3 was a refreshing return to the basics, featuring all of the horrifying shadowy figures and panned scares that drew in viewers in the first place.