The movie that I watched on 28 May 2021 was Alien Intruder, a sci fi film that I'd never previously heard of and had actually purchased a few days earlier in DVD format simply to make up the required number in a special DVD bargain sale offer. Yet, surprisingly, it proved entertaining viewing – a frequently-experienced paradox whereby the least of expectations ultimately lights the way to the greatest of enjoyments.
Directed by Ricardo Jacques Gale, and released in 1993 Alien Intruder stars Maxwell Caulfield, Tracy Scoggins, Billy Dee Williams, and Richard Cody, among others. It also includes a special appearance by Jeff Conaway in a literally all-guns-ablazing prelude scene to the main plot.
Set in what back in the early 1990s when this movie was made was still very much the future, namely the year 2022, the novel storyline of Alien Intruder features four longterm high-security convicts, including top-notch former space navigator Nick (played by Caulfield) and genius computer nerd DJ (Cody), who are promised the commuting of their prison sentences if they volunteer to serve on an important mission aboard the memorably-named U.S.S. Presley spacecraft captained by taciturn, secretive Commander Skyler (Williams). Skyler is seeking any survivors who may be on board fellow craft the U.S.S. Holly, lost within what turns out to be an ominous, uncharted zone in deep space.
Providing further enticement to sign up for this hazardous task, which they ultimately do, every weekend from 5 pm on Friday evening onwards until Monday morning each of the four convicts is permitted to spend his entire time having fun within a virtual-reality fantasy world of his own choice, and always containing a beautiful woman with whom he can play tiddlywinks or whatever else he may decide to play with her...
So far, so good – but then a second, very mysterious but exceedingly voluptuous woman named Ariel (Scoggins) inexplicably begins appearing in their VR-simulated fantasies, even though she is not part of the VR program being utilized (aptly named Aphrodite). Moreover, she then begins appearing in their real world too, aboard their spacecraft Presley, and has no scruples about inciting raging jealousy between them and pitting them against one another, fighting fiercely among themselves for her favours.
But who, or what, is the anomalous Ariel, and is she somehow connected to Holly, the spacecraft that went missing? Abruptly, Presley's computer malfunctions, locking the crew out of its controls, and when DJ is ordered to investigate and rectify the situation, he is both startled and totally perplexed to discover a strange virus hidden deep within its system, but one that seems to be less a computer virus and more a weird, unrecognisable form of DNA...
Finally, Skyler and the convicts locate Holly, and some of them go aboard it, only to discover that Holly's crew appear to have gruesomely killed one another. But guess who else is there, very much alive, and just as seductive and sensual as ever? To say that the situation back on board Presley between its crew members deteriorates rapidly thereafter would be putting it mildly, especially when the true purpose of Ariel's sexually disruptive presence is at last revealed. Speaking of which: there is a delightfully tongue-in-cheek twist right at the very end of the movie, which if I'm honest I did see coming, but it was no less humorous when it was duly unfurled.
Although it is quite lightweight in overall content despite the abundance of action-pumped scenes and liberal smattering of expletives throughout, and presumably due to its low budget the special effects are less than special, at least Alien Intruder is fast-moving and blessed with a cast who flesh out their respective roles not only effectively but also amusingly when required. And whereas this movie certainly could never lay claim to being a purveyor of cerebral drama or cinematic sophistication, for me it passed 94 minutes in a breezy, enjoyable, undemanding manner, which in these currently stressful times I am personally most grateful for.
In short, I'm very pleased that I followed my hunch and included this particular film in my selection of bargain-sale DVDs recently.
If you'd like to check out more concerning Alien Intruder, be sure to click here to watch an action-packed official trailer for this sci fi movie on YouTube.
And to view a complete listing of all of my Shuker In MovieLand blog's other film reviews and articles (each one instantly accessible via a direct clickable link), please click HERE!
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