Lost Voyage

On the one hand, it's TV movie originating on the Sci Fi Channel. On the other hand, it precedes that time when the Sci Fi Channel became SyFy, and began routinely partnering with The Asylum. And hey, there are some recognizable stars in this! How bad could it be?

I'm not inclined to lay the blame on the shoulders of anyone operating behind the scenes, for I assume a low budget and the guidance of the filmmaker or producers is more to blame. While 'Lost voyage' is easy on the eyes in terms of Todd Barron's photography and the fundamental image quality, the sets tend to seem weirdly spartan, bereft of detail or texture that would help them to feel real. Even the lighting bears a distinct artificiality, and while instances of CGI are a smidgen more detailed and believable than what we've seen elsewhere (again, namely The Asylum), still the discrepancy with shot footage is overt. Christian McIntire's direction and editing both feel rather brusque, or sometimes maybe even a little stilted, and there's a discernible hard edge to the sound design, not to mention in the acting, that likewise betrays the contrivance. What this picture needed above all was a more tactful, nuanced touch that would have helped every component part to stand taller, stand out, and meaningfully resonate.

I would also offer this: 'Lost voyage' aims to tell a story of science fiction and horror, the rediscovery of a cruise ship that vanished in the Bermuda Triangle many years before. It wants to use all the tricks of the trade to do so - rapid cuts and sequences of imagery, special effects, practical effects, sound effects, special makeup, the equipment of "paranormal investigators," entities seen through electronic equipment, visions received by the characters, tinges of atmosphere shaped by the music or cinematography, and more. I think there are some terrific ideas in the screenplay McIntire penned alongside Patrick Phillips, in every regard, from the story and scene writing to characters and dialogue. What the feature lacks is the Vision to bring the tableau to ideal fruition, the resources to make the more unrealistic and supernatural elements count, and/or the mindful skill and care to realize the film as intended. I'm of the mind that this either needed to have total commitment to form develop the tale on the same level as major studio genre fare (more and heartier effects, bigger and better sets, and so on), or alternatively, to go the opposite route and make this less about what we see, and more about what we don't see, and what is just underhandedly suggested. Look to the BBC's iconic 1992 special 'Ghostwatch' as an example, or even 1972's 'The stone tape.' As it exists, no matter how good the root ideas are, the more 'Lost voyage' relies on special effects and big visuals, the worse it comes off.

I don't dislike this. Even for all the weaknesses and flaws it carries, there's much to appreciate here in my opinion. I see what McIntire and Phillips were going for as they wrote it, and had the movie been crafted with a more calculated, precise hand, and better support from the proverbial suits, it would have found much greater success. I even find a measure of kinship with Christophe Gans' exceptional 2006 adaptation of 'Silent Hill' in some ways. Unfortunately, as it presents, this feels perhaps half-realized - kind of fun, but only in a basic fashion, and not making much of an impression. It's not outright bad; there are far worse ways to spend one's time. It is a bit middling, however, and unless one is a diehard fan of someone involved or aching for genre fare no matter the quality, there's no reason to especially seek it out. 'Lost voyage' is okay; it's just regrettable that one easily sees how much better it could have been.

If you don't go into it with overly high expectations, nor expect there to be a particularly rigorous logic to what unfolds, this reasonably entertaining five or six star flick is worth a look, especially for fans of the Bermuda Triangle sub-genre of supernatural thrillers.

I am surprised. I caught this on a recent trip to London, and was half asleep one night and turned the TV on. My heart sank when the only movie on was this, however, because I saw the UFO logo up front and am familiar with their brand of crap. Imagine my surprise when I began watching it anyway and found that it was actually a GOOD movie.

Judd Nelson plays Aaron, whose parent were lost on a cruise ship back in the 1970's, somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle. He has weird dreams about it, apparently, and seems to be involved in researching the paranormal (this was a bit unclear). The ship (SURPRISE!) returns, and a spunky reporter (Janet Gunn) named Dana, who works for a trashy paranormal TV show, decides to go out to the ship and get an exclusive story. She tries to get Judd to go along, but he's (understandably) upset about his missing parents, and her desire to make it all into a sideshow.

Now, it begins to get interesting. Dana has hired a sort of motley crew of salvage operators, led by the wonderful Lance Henriksen as Shaw. He's crabby, craggy, and so are his two helpers. They are about to fly out to the ship, and (of course) Judd shows up in the nick of time. CGI shots of the helicopter and the ship follow (looks good, overall). Once onboard the ship, nasty things start to happen. The interesting thing about this movie is that much of what happens is psychological, instead of overtly "spooky". The director, (Christian McIntire, who also co-wrote this), sets up a tension and weird atmosphere, although some gags don't pay off. One by one, the members of the team are bumped off, but the characters respond in a somewhat realistic fashion to the weirdness and the deaths. There is a wonderful scene showing what panic and tension can do to two people when Lance and another salvage operator (Jeff Kober) get into an argument.

So, the film builds toward the inevitible conclusion, but it is an entertaining ride getting there. Scarlett Chorvat is stunning, as is Janet Gunn, and ALL of the acting is very good. The script seems a little rushed, but it seems that this is a director to watch for in the future. In conclusion, then, a low budget thriller that is well shot, well paced, well directed and acted and a pleasantly spooky diversion.

Still surprised it's from UFO...

It's another ghost ship, a la Mary Celeste type mystery. The Corona Queen turns up after disappearing 30 years earlier. Quickly, a bunch of people that can't wait to get killed by ghosts form a rag-tag "research" group and sneak aboard to film the vessel and its secrets (they're not supposed to be there of course-big surprise).

One (Judd Nelson) is the son of of two passengers who vanished along with the ship; he's now an expert on Bermuda Triangle phenomena. There's a TV filming crew of 3, and a ship salvage team of 3, led by a guy who talks slow and creepily (Lance Henrikson). It's obvious who's gonna get it, and in which order. The movie does find some Twilight Zone type twists as the story progresses (like inner past guilt haunting the person), so the deaths are predicated on something, at least. (Somewhat better than one of those movies where victims scream "Oh my Gawd!" as they take turns getting axed.)

Nelson and Henrikson aren't bad, but neither is at his best here. Nelson's always bulging his eyes out; it almost looks like they'll burst out of his head at any moment (he could also use a better hair cut). The balance of the group are all unknowns who make good targets for the paranormal entities. The spooks are designed pretty well, and the movie wisely doesn't show them until the time is right.

Routine stuff, but delivered reasonably well.

I liked this movie ! I think it's right up there with "The Bermuda Depths" with Connie Selleca and "Triangle" with Luke Perry as a group of ghost hunters sneak aboard a ship long believed missing. There's some pretty fair scares and some spooky deaths on board as well as excellant special effects, but then it lags and drags as the parapsychologists experience wild mind trips and start talking of holes in space and time. The creators of the movie should have focused more on telling one story than confusing and bogging us down with details. Judd Nelson is wonderfully spooky as he forces himself to visit the ship in order to get over the guilt of losing his parents and Lance Henriksen is curious to watch as the leader and guide to the mystery as some sort of interactive Rod Serling. The ending, however, doesn't make much sense at all, but is a spectacular tour de force that will leave the viewer on his seat. I recommend this movie to any one who appreciates a good ghost story !