Roswell Delirium

I was disappointed once again to be tricked into watching a movie I thought was a SciFi, but ended up being something entirely different. The synopsis states: "Following a nuclear attack, a girl receives a distress call from space that leads her on an extraterrestrial journey". Well, there is no call from space, no aliens, and no extraterrestrial journey. This is classic bait and switch, and it is not the first movie that plays the trick of calling itself a SciFi when it is not.

The movie disguises itself as a SciFi, but is actually a psychological drama. It takes an hour of movie watching to finally come to this realization, but by then you have been suckered into it.

There should be a law against passing a movie as a certain genre, when it is not.

I very seldom review movies on here, but this was actually so horrible that I had to warn others to pass it by and not waste their time watching it. I can see why it took years for this to come to light and then went straight to streaming when it finally did come out. The acting was horrible, the script and dialogue and the interaction between the actors looked forced and was horrible and the score was horrendous. The movie was set in an alternate 1980's, and it sure did a good job reminding me of a B movie that was actually filmed in the 80's, so they got that aspect correct. This movie should have stayed on the shelf. 1/10.

Do I think the concept was terrible? No. The execution was bad, and the acting was absolutely awful. The only good thing about this movie imo is Reginald VelJohnson, I love him so much but this movie was not it I fear. It was super underwhelming and the sci-fi aspect didn't show much like I had hoped, I could not keep my eyes on the movie and enjoy it. I think it could've been better, just overall wasn't good. And the kids in the movie had so much potential I think. I do think they could be better (sorry I'm just rambling for the required character minimum) not worth the watch I don't think, but I'd honestly like to see a better remake with the same concept.

To be honest, I haven't seen such a plot mess in a movie for a long time. I'm not even sure that I understood everything correctly. But it was interesting to sort out this mess. In order not to spoil the intrigue for future viewers, I'll just say "everything is not as simple as it seems at first glance." Assessing the film, I will say that it is not bad. But quite controversial. The acting of some actors (mostly children) raises questions - they played even too well. And this exaggerated expression is confusing. The dramatic, serious plot echoes their antics and at first it is difficult to understand what I am watching at all. Especially when we have aliens in the context of America battered by nuclear strikes. (sounds too strange) However, closer to the second half of the film, it becomes much easier to watch. Finally, I would like to highlight the slight protractedness of the film. Not everyone will appreciate this moment, but for those who like to thoughtfully watch films, this example is suitable.

Ok, the GOOD: There's a lot to like here. First off, they shot it on the Alexa - which is no small feat on a tight budget. Camera work? Solid. The '80s actors and references? A delightful touch. The sound design starts off real rough, but by the third act it actually finds its groove. Acting-wise... it's a mixed bag. There are standouts, though. Anthony Michael Hall - legend - absolutely flawless in the few scenes he's in (probably three, maybe four days on set, tops, so don't blink). Lisa Whelchel and Dee Wallace? Great '80s additions, even in their brief moments. And who doesn't love America's dad, Reginald VelJohnson? Sam Jones? That guy makes everything better.

The leads grow on you - seriously. They get noticeably better as the film progresses, which makes me think they might've shot it mostly in order (just a theory). So yeah, lots of good stuff here.

Now, the Criticism: This movie changes tone more than any film I think I've ever seen. It starts off quirky - almost a comedy - with a few cringe moments, sure, but it's kind of charming. And then, boom, by the end it veers hard into drama and darkness. I was sitting there like, "Wait... what is happening?" It's just kind of bizarre.

Also: it's not sci-fi. That's a bait and switch. It's a drama. Straight up.

There's way too much exposition. Like, way too much. Classic "tell me, don't show me" problem - and that's the quickest way to lose an audience. At one point I literally thought, "Tolkien couldn't follow this plot." Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh - but still.

That said, I've got a soft spot for low-budget films. I've made a few. They're tough. No one sets out to make a bad movie - it's a craft, and you learn by doing. So I hope the filmmakers see this as encouragement to keep going.

Because here's the thing: it has heart. Especially in the final scenes with the mom and daughter - that hit.

So yeah, not perfect - but a bold, heartfelt swing. And sometimes that's enough to make it worth watching.