Film Guide

The space shuttle disintegrates upon re-entry to earth’s atmosphere; spreading its wreckage across a huge part of the United States. The authorities warn people to say away from any wreckage and bring in the CDC. The government informs the population that there is nothing to be afraid of. Then an epidemic starts – labelled the worst flu epidemic in US history, a mysterious anti-virus is quickly created and administered, at first voluntarily. Carol Bennell starts to notice strange behaviour from those around her, namely exhibiting a zombie like placidity (not the flesh eating kind).

The Invasion is a story about what happen when a alien organising starts infecting the population, turning them into emotionless zombies, intent on infecting everyone else. Pretty much decimated by reviewers and with only a 19% rating on Rotten-Tomatoes I still held out hope that this might be a decent movie, purely based on the trailer.

Whilst it’s not going to set the world on fire, The Invasion is a tightly paced drama that will have you creeping towards the edge of your seat. Sure it’s mildly predictable and cheesy in places, but it’s a fun little romp, well filmed and with the emotional battle between divorced parents and their son, it certainly racks up the human drama.

Nicole Kidman does a good job as the lead female and mother mentioned above, but Daniel Craig for the most part seems to be just along for the ride.

The social commentary gets a little heavy handed early on with a Russian diplomat claiming that the only way to have a peaceful world is to get rid of the humans – cue alien takeover…

Food for thought (spoilers):
As with I Am Legend, the solution lies not in America’s military might, nor the medical expertise of brilliant scientists, but rather in the blood of a little boy. It’s through the blood that humanity finds salvation.

Reviewed by: Jonathan Read.
Rating: M – Contains Medium Level Violence.
Duration: 99 mins.
Genre: Sci-fi, Suspense & Thriller, Sci-Fi Thriller.
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel.
Actors: Jeffrey Wright, Veronica Cartwright, Nicole Kidman, Jeremy Northam, Daniel Craig, Jackson Bond.
Distributor: Roadshow.
Release Date: Available now.