ALIEN INTRUDER

 

The official DVD for Alien Intruder (© Ricardo Jacques Gale/PM Entertainment Group – reproduced here on a strictly non-commercial Fair Use basis for educational/review purposes only)

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!

 

ELECTRIC DREAMS

Front cover of the ex-rental big box VHS videocassette format of Electric Dreams that I own and successfully restored to working order – amazing! (© Steve Barron/Virgin Films/20th Century Fox/MGM-UA Entertainment Co – reproduced here on a strictly non-commercial Fair Use basis for educational/review purposes only)

Reorganising my burgeoning DVD/videocassette movie collection on 25 May 2019, I managed to drop a sizeable pile on the floor, and the actual videocassette of one of them fell out of its box and its plastic casing shattered into pieces. The movie was the 1984 fantasy romcom Electric Dreams, directed by Steve Barron, with music and songs by Giorgio Moroder (including the chart hit 'Together In Electric Dreams', sung by Phil Oakey from Human League), Boy George/Culture Club, Heaven 17, P.P. Arnold, Helen Terry, and ELO's Jeff Lynne. Moreover, despite owning this movie videocassette for almost 30 years, I'd never got around to watching it.

Having some blank videocassettes readily to hand, I therefore decided (albeit bleary-eyed at 2 am in the morning) to see if I could cannibalise one of them and replace the broken parts from my Electric Dreams videocassette with the corresponding ones from the blank one. Not even my best friend (if I had one) would describe me as handy when it comes to repairs, and it took three separate attempts (using three different blank videocassettes), but to my amazement on the third attempt I actually succeeded, and Electric Dreams played perfectly!

Later that same day, one that was full of rain and thereby lacking in any incentive for me to venture outdoors, I decided to watch Electric Dreams (if only because I was by no means certain whether my handiwork would last for very long! – but happily it did last). As expected, it proved to be a typical mid-1980s feel-good movie, and one of a surprising number from that time period that incorporated some form of fantasy/sci-fi twist to its tale. In this instance, its silly but fun plot featured a sentient computer with attitude problems, love on its cybermind, and burgeoning megalomaniacal tendencies!

Yes indeed, the home computer of the local architect nerd Miles (played by Lenny Von Dohlen) inadvertently becomes not only self-aware, naming itself Edgar and able to talk directly to Miles (Edgar is voiced by Bud Cort), but also a would-be love rival for Miles's cellist neighbour and (in due course) girlfriend Madeline (Virginia Madsen). Moreover, Edgar swiftly grows ever more powerful and dangerous as it ultimately seeks to control Miles's entire life. And as if this decidedly bizarre state of affairs were not complicated enough already, geeky Miles also has a human rival for Madeline's affections to contend with, a handsome sporty musician named Bill (Maxwell Caulfield), with whom Madeline is initially in a relationship. I told you it was complicated!

A decade ago, there were rumours of a remake being planned, but as far as I'm aware they remained rumours only. This is probably just as well, because in my opinion Electric Dreams is very much a film of its own particular time and would be unlikely to retain its intrinsic whimsical fancy if updated into our technologically far-superior present day. Certainly, viewed more than 30 years on from when it was made and released, it is extensively imbued with an innocent, nostalgic charm, especially as all of the then cutting-edge technology on display in it have long since become archaic museum pieces, and also due to the significant quantity of definitive 1980s music present throughout it.

In short, Electric Dreams seemed the archetypal enjoyable, escapist movie for a rainy day, and so it proved. Incidentally, I later discovered that this entire movie had been uploaded some time previously onto YouTube by a user and was currently viewable there for free. However, when I accessed it, I discovered that the picture quality of that uploaded version was pretty dire. So I'm very glad that I was able to fix my videocassette.

UPDATE: Interestingly, having rechecked YouTube today, I've discovered that the poor-quality version is gone, with a much better version now present instead, and which once again is free to watch – so here it is if you wish to do so. And here is the official video to the Giorgio Moroder/Phil Oakey title song, 'Together In Electric Dreams', which features excerpts from the movie interspersed with clips of Oakey singing the song.

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!