Review of Outlander (2008) by Allen M — 02 Jan 2010

I didn't expect much from this straight to DVD humans vs alien monster film, especially with its almost B list cast of Jim Caviezel (Passion), Sophia Myles (Underworld), Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and John Hurt (too many to mention). Even the added plot of being set in Viking age Norway would at first glance seem gimmicky and pointless.

You can almost imagine that these main actors are trying to be other people. Caviezel is trying to be Christian Bale, Myles is trying to be Keira Knightley, Jack Huston is trying to be Karl Urban and Ron Perlman is... trying to be Ron Perlman in the way that only Ron Perlman can be.

Certainly the first half seems just a copy of AVP but there are a few interesting points to keep the viewer interested, not least the revelation that the alien isn't completely 1 dimensional. The Viking aesthetic is good enough and a darnsight better than "Pathfinder" and the alien looks quite impressive and menacing despite some cheap effects.

But don't expect too much, though it is certainly better than AVP2 there are better versions of this type of film. 6/10.