Cosmic Contact

"Have a Coke", make some popcorn, relax and suspend disbelief. The unlikely unfolding of events and less-than award-winning acting is part of the fun of this kind of film — very much in the genre of the 1950's science fiction movies.

Here are science-y people doing impossible, scientific-like things with technological-looking hardware which results in unforeseeable consequences of cosmic proportions. But, unlike modern "sci-fi" movies that rely heavily on computer-generated worlds, violence and prurience, this little film relies almost completely on plot and characters. That makes for a terrific bit of entertainment in my book.

(I put "sci-fi" in quotes as most films of that kind today rely almost entirely on magic with not even the suggestion of anything scientific.)

The film fails on most levels. An obsessive 'techie' driven by an idea which actually works, eventually. This is already a feeble "What if ..." to justify what could have been a good starting point.

Unfortunately, the plot fails to live up to the original premise. Worse, the characters end up explaining the gaps in the plot to each other, since the production is unable to do so.

The next refuge is the 'shot in a cupboard' environment. The producer obviously thought "We don't need much in the way of expensive special effects if nobody can see the environment anyway". The remaining need for special effects is just tacked-on and would have looked cheap ten years before it was actually produced.

Finally (no spoiler), the end is almost embarrassingly predictable. A real 'B' Movie.

"Shadows on the Wall is slow-burn sci-fi with a brilliant concept buried under uneven performances and a meandering pace. What saves it-what makes it stick-is the core idea: a device that uses cosmic background radiation as a medium for communication, tapping into the very fabric of the universe to transmit signals. The implications grow fast and frightening, and while the acting rarely rises above competent and the script could've used another pass, the ambition is undeniable. It's lo-fi, high-concept science fiction that dares to ask: what happens when you build a phone to the stars... and something answers?"

No special effects needed to give the viewer some decent sci fi entertainment.

A little hammy on the two male actors parts, but not unwatchable. I am so disappointed in Hollywood fare that cannot release any movie or series these days that isn't focused on agenda and identity politics. This indie has none of that nonsense, just entertainment

Although this is a low budget movie I liked the plot and was willing to give it a go. Three students meet up on this adventure:- One is the geek that makes the machine, one is the girl who is the good mathematician and the other is the normal guy. The three of them are excited about their discovery and go deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole. Initially the acting of the three main actors come over as amateurish, which almost stopped me watching the movie. But then I got myself a beer and started to enjoy the movie more. It has the usual men in black turning up later which didn't really add to the plot. However, I reached the end and was glad to have watched this movie.