51 (2011/Lionsgate/After Dark Originals DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: D     Extras: C     Film: C+

 

 

After years of political, social and media pressure the military has finally allowed a select few reporters on the base know as 'Area 51'.  Thinking to find the militaries most tightly guarded secrets these reporters don't REALLY think the military really tell them the truth that easily... But that all changed when some of the base's 'long term visitors' takes it as the perfect opportunity break free.  What started out as a tour rapidly turns into a survival to escape a military base in Jason Connery’s 51.

 

Area 51, the place rumored to have aliens and where the wreak of a flying saucer is kept.  After years of pressure the government has agreed to let reporters on the base to dispel the rumors, that area 51 is nothing more than a normal air force base... right.  What they didn't know was how many aliens they kept on the base, and all hell breaks loose when aliens decide it's time to break free from their captors. Lady Death and her little devils, Patient Zero with the ability to mimic and copy anyone, and J-rod an alien with telekinesis.  To stop them from escaping the base is set to self destruct... and the clock is ticking.

If you like aliens and military conspiracy theories then look no further, 51 is full of them.  What I thought was going to be a single alien movie turned out to be a multiple alien movie.  Unfortunately none of the aliens were very original, a shapeshifting alien, an H. R. Giger's Alien knock-off, and a standard grey alien with large eyes.  The film turns into a horror film when the aliens break loose, and then you get to see how many different ways aliens can kill the military personnel, the survivors some somehow not only stop the aliens but get off the base before the base's nuclear self destructs destroys all the evidence.  Extras include behind the scenes and trailers.

 

 

-   Ricky Chiang