David Schmoeller's 'The Arrival' is a film that could have delivered more than it went out to achieve, but I guess the low-budget restricted Schmoeller's final vision. The main problem came from how mechanical and blotchy (mainly the chase angle with the romance sub-plot) it felt. Some unhinged images and moody atmospherics are competently staged, however how weird these visuals were or the story was in the end it wasn't weird enough. It's plain handling throughout, and it was probably a little too subtle for its own good. The material would have made for an interesting 60 minute episode, because what was stretched out didn't have enough to entirely hold it together. There's nothing particularly confusing about the jumbled story, but there are many questions left untouched and certain illogical developments which actually can frustrate. Mainly focusing on the alien's origins and intentions. What it seems like is an alien parasite that takes up residence in an elderly man Max, after hitching a ride with a meteor. Max dies due to the encounter, but is suddenly revived on the autopsy table. The alien form (which we never see) begins to change Max's health and appearance. His health is exceptional, but also looks younger, but his having hallucinating nightmares and a quench for blood. Soon his on the road to San Diego to find Connie, who he struck a friendship with when he was in hospital. But along the way he murders women for the oestrogen in their blood to help rejuvenate his body and FBI agent John Mills is on his trail.
While cast is hearty, the performances feel phoned in. It's the minor support bits by the likes of Michael J Pollard, Stuart Gordon and Carolyn Purdy-Gordon's slightly amuse. Playing the elderly Max is an heart-warming Robert Sampson and the younger part went to a cold, blank face Joseph Culp. John Saxon makes light-weight of his role and a wholesomely fixating Robin Frates is good in her part Connie.
Schmoeller's low-scale touch and abilities is soundly displayed, but in the end lacks excitement with some of the action occurring off-screen and the effects are quite tone down to some light shows. The pacing is sluggish, but it finishes with an intense closing quarter and the score is quite soft, but remains pulsating.
