Not Like Us

"Not Like Us" is a classic example of minimalist film making done right. This "black comedy" has loads of "Re-Animator" type dark humor wrapped around a horror/sci-fi script, that moves quickly, and is rarely dull. Never taking itself seriously, the alien's simple purpose of skinning humans to improve their own hideous appearance drives the film into cult movie territory. You get at least a bunch of stereotypical hayseeds being seduced by an unbelievably attractive alien in human skin. Numerous characters can be heard extolling some truly priceless dialog. Throw in ample nudity, adequate acting, creative photography, and an otherworldly soundtrack...............what more could you want in a cult movie candidate? Recommended. - MERK

A top contender for worst film ever made. Joanna Pakula's character seems to have an I.Q. of 3 which is only one less than the writer and director. The screenplay would not have passed in a high school writing class; the "jokes" are juvenile; the concept corny. These performers were obviously desperate for work. I stayed to the end only to see if it would get worse. It did. Life is too short to spend any part of it watching this film.

An alien and (sexy) sis conduct surgical experiments on hinterland hayseeds. (Question: Why decimate Yokelville when one could operate in, say, LA, where no one would miss a few dozen bums and crackwhores?) A major annoyance: the video box promises horror and suspense, but the product is utterly unserious. While its shortcomings are many, it does have small virtues, as it attempts to mirror 50's creature features, and has that seat-of-the-pants feel of early New World output. Tyler Bates' score cleverly echoes those bombastic Ronald Stein and Albert Glasser soundtracks of the fifties, and the alien surgical tools lovingly replicate Paul Blaisdell"s otherworldly props in INVASION OF THE SAUCERMEN and NOT OF THIS EARTH, which this film's plot resembles. FX, make-up, and acting are passable, and Rainer Grant is terrific fun as the space vixen.

This low-budget tale of a (small-scale) alien invasion is a curious mixture. The rural small-town setting is well-caught and much of the film has an innocent goofy charm. But this is undercut by the violent and ruthless nature of the aliens' behaviour as they prey on the hapless townspeople. Acting is reasonable with Joanna Pacula as a likeable heroine suffering marital problems and events build to a strikingly gruesome climax.

Upon beginning to watch this movie, I thought that it was extremely bad. I wondered why I had taped it many years ago, and figured it was because it had Joana Pacula. But as it went on, I realized that this was deliberate, that it was aiming at camp. It's not the best example of a campy film, but at least it does hit that target. So, I ended up finding it rather amusing. Rainer Grant and Annabelle Gurwitch looked very fetching as well. I don't know that I could recommend this film, but I might watch it again some day.