Apollo 18 - 2011

Dimension Films, Bekmambetov Projects Ltd. (BPL), Apollo 18 Productions

Directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego

Cast:

• Ben Anderson – Warren Christie
• Nate Walker – Lloyd Owen
• John Grey – Ryan Robbins
• Deputy Secretary of Defense – Michael Kopsa
• Mission Control – Andrew Arlie
• Laura Anderson – Kim Wylie
• Ryan Anderson – Noah Wylie
• Nate's Girlfriend – Ali Liebert
• John's Fiancee – Erica Carroll

Story: Unknown to the world, the US did launch another Apollo mission, a secret military mission with only one agenda: place listening devices and motion activated cameras on the moon. The three astronauts chosen were not briefed on any other details, and they are confused when their equipment begins to have problems. Because of communications problems, they miss one take off, and begin to realize there is more here than meets the eyes. They stumble upon a Russian lander, and realize the bodies of the two Cosmonauts did not die of natural causes. Their worst fears are realized when they are told they cannot return to Earth.

Review: Conspiracy theories and “recovered” footage, hmm...Blair Witch project, take three? While not quite ready to put this in the total waste of time category, I have to admit this could have used a lot of work. The acting is so-so, the dialog is “too” real, almost forced, and the story wanders around in search of a decent climax. Like “Cloverfield”, the project was a low-budget, ambitious film with that more than tripled its cost, which has to have made the investors happy. But the premise of the US sending three men into space to die, knowing the outcome of the mission, is sparse at best, and the worst kind of obscure and meaningless conspiracy theory. Hostile creatures on the moon, spider-like beings disguised as rocks then sent by the government to other nations to what, assassinate other leaders in mysterious, untraceable deaths? Sorry, but I just can't wrap my head around this one. Probably a “once see” for the scifi crowd, rated PG-13 for violence and language, I don't see this one as a collectible, or really as that entertaining.