Hell'o humans, and hellcome to the section of the field of horror that is so dear to my heart. For this fourth edition, the horror takes place in space because it provides a low-budget film released in 2011, but that is for me one of the best horror films low budget, and is based about real facts: Apollo 18.
Quick synopsis of the film:
Apollo 17 was supposed to be the last trip to the moon. But in 1974, in the greatest secret, the government and NASA sent the Apollo 18 flight to the moon, or a crew of three astronauts: Anderson, Walker and Grey must install long-range spy systems on surface the moon, to spy on the Russians and avoid any Soviet attack. But in reality, the purpose of the mission is of a different kind and the government didn't warned the three astronauts about the truth. The astronauts will find themselves embarking into a nightmare in the space, that could take their life. In fact, the moon is not as deserted as it seems. The government had said that the other trips to the moon were canceled due to budget, but this is false: the truth is much more terrifying: there is something on the moon, and it does not want us in its territory.
Although the scenario seems basic, and the film did not have a good reception, it is not nearly as bad as many pretend to say. Personally, I loved this film and its context. Already, the fact that this film is inspired on real events such as traveling to the moon by the Apollo missions, it's great and well thought. It is true that the Apollo 18 trip was canceled, but to make a film and to make believe that it was held in secret.... Ingenious.
The actors, unknown, but very well played their roles. Another great idea is to have made a film on the moon, a world very remote of the earth, or find themselves lost our heroes, in an environment that is much more hostile and threatening than they thought. One of the most terrifying scenes is when they discover the body of a Russian cosmonaut, and understand that he is not dead by accident, but was killed by something. The Russians confirmed that they have sent only one man, so .... What killed this man?
The film is shot as a kind of documentary that has gone wrong and is filmed with a handheld camera to add more realism and make believe that it is of archival videos that show the nightmare that have experienced these men on the moon. Really well done, and even if it's fictional, it gives chills in the back.
And for the "villains" of the movie, well, no ultra futuristic alien civilization. The creatures of the film are very few views during the film, and only a few seconds per image, and most are blurry or poorly framed on purpose, so that the viewer is constantly asks about what it is. From what I've seen, these are kinds of parasites like spiders, that blend into the rocky environment of the moon and can parasitize humans, for entering their bodies and are very aggressive toward us, as if they didn't want us on their territory. At first I was scared that aliens from the movie are too futuristic or too human and break the macabre atmosphere of the film, but not, fortunately. Having created primitive parasites and thus create a sort of primitive fauna on the moon is brilliant and well thought out. And show that the government was aware from the beginning and had sent astronauts without warning them, adds suspense to the story.
So if you like science fiction, horror, silent and macabre atmospheres, and also the terrifying creatures, watch Apollo 18. Not the film of the year, but good entertainment nonetheless. I recommand it.
Trailer of the movie:
Mathias, the Lordi Rider \m/
Winter is coming \m/
