Alien Invasion Arizona
 DJHufford  rates it:    Community rates it:
   638 of 818 readers found this review helpful.

Every now and again a low-budget film will completely shock me. I don’t expect much out of low budget films. Usually the acting is poor and everything from the dialogue to the effects is phoned in. I watch a lot of low budget films, mainly for the plot and camp value. But no, every once and again a film will blow me away when I least expect it. Alien Invasion Arizona is one such film.

As it begins we meet a troop of convicts who are being transported over the Arizona desert. Now these are a bunch of tough roughnecks, not your white collar crime crowd. They manage to superbly overpower the prison guards and make their escape. The escape was so clean and neat that when they got to a small village in the middle of nowhere Arizona, they falsely feel a sense of freedom and accomplishment. As far as their concerned, their home free. Bring out the cheap beer and apple pie.

Oh but wait, this movie is called Alien Invasion Arizona right? Enter the flesh eating super alien zombie thingy’s! These aren’t your typical Will Smith save the world aliens either. These Aliens are capable of demonic possession apparently. When they posses someone, the eyes of said person fade to complete darkness and the visual gets really creepy and unsettling. Daddy likey.

Of course the humans are no match for the aliens, and the aliens proceed to eat, posses, and kill just about everyone in the film. Yeah, this isn’t your 4th of July feel good movie that’s for sure. There are some really great battles between the aliens and groups of military commandos. Lots of blood, guts and bullets. Is there anything greater in film then the fog of war?

The acting was actually surprisingly good. Dan Southworth and Avery Clyde are really damn good in this. There was a little nudity splashed in for good measure, which is never a bad thing. The only negative thing I can really say about this film is that the dialogue left a lot to be desired. Apparently, every criminal, guard, and military man is a sarcastic wise-ass. Not really indicative of the general population. If I could sit down with the director I would tell him to not try so hard, present these humans as normal. After all, the humans are just here to carry the story forward, all anyone wants to really see is the scary aliens.

But with the over zealous dialogue aside, this movie worked on every level. From the directing to the casting to the cinematography, this is a fine decent piece of film. It is an absolute shame that this will reach such a small audience, being direct to DVD and all. Hopefully, the Sci-Fi channel picks this one up and we can all enjoy it on Saturday matinee’s for a long time to come.

Added:  Friday, March 16, 2007
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