Title: Apollo 18
Directed by: Gonzalo López-Gallego
Starring: Warren Christie, Ryan Robbins and Ali Liebert
Running time: 87 minutes, Rated PG-13, Available on Standard DVD
In December of 1974, two American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. The film is compiled footage shot by the two astronauts on their mission, and gives viewers a glimpse at the possible reason why we never returned to the moon.
This film has the same concept as The Blair Witch Project and The Paranormal Activity trilogy – it’s all “found footage.” To all you inbred goons who believe the found footage to be real, I shouldn’t even have to assure you it is not.
This film in my opinion did not live up to the advertising hype, and for that I was disappointed. I was bored through most of the movie. I kept debating whether or not to just skip ahead because it was all bland dialogue, the irritating shaky cam and some screaming. Nothing really happens until the last half hour of the film. The creature effects were lame; I couldn’t even suspend disbelief because there’s no way these things could ever exist. The actors screaming were more frightening than the actual creatures. The only positive I can give is to the set design department.
The special features include a commentary by director Gonzalo López-Gallego & Editor Patrick Lussier, Deleted and Alternate Scenes, and Alternate Endings. I did enjoy the 3 alternate death scenes; the suffocation version would’ve been my pick rather than what was chosen for the final cut.
If they cut this film down to a 45 minute short, I would’ve enjoyed it more; however if you’re an aspiring astronaut or outer space fanatic, you might enjoy the film in entirety.
Total Rating: C
Reviewed by: JM Willis
