Monsters (2010)

The end of another week is here, and it was the first full week of teaching at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Ironically, it is also Friday the 13th, and it has been a weird day complete with strange weather and odd happenings (my alarm clock shutting off on its own in the middle of the night truly started the day right). Being in the mood for something different, I decided on the almost no budget Indie Sci-Fi flick Monsters for my evening entertainment.

Plot/ Six years ago, NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but it crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life form began to appear and half of Mexico was quarantined as an Infected Zone. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain the creatures. Now, a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border

Sci-Fi and alien movies are always interesting and it is often amazing at how good they can be made on low budgets, and this film is no exception. Done on a shoestring budget, this movie succeeds where many larger budget flicks fail, creating a sound storyline, awesome scenery and some decent atmosphere. On top of that, the characterization and acting are also good and the background hint of the monsters is more effective having them overwhelm the screen. Sure, this is not without minor flaws as some of the pacing is uneven and there is an overall lack of action, but those are not showstoppers. In the end, some will complain about the lack of action, but this flick is more than that and will be enjoyed. Honestly, if you watch it with an open mind and do not expect Cloverfield, you should enjoy it.