- Film:
- Jason Connery
Reviewed by: David M. Brown
- Rating:
- 1
Summary:
51 is another poor attempt at an alien killing spree.
More DetailsAbout 51 (2011)
Sci-fi horror in which a group of journalists touring the top secret Area 51 facility stumble upon one of its most mysterious inhabitants. When pressure from the American population forces the Air Force to provide journalists with access to Area 51 Colonel John Martin (Bruce Boxleitner) is assigned the duty of escorting members of the press around the facility. However the tour of journalists Sam (John Shea) Claire (Vanessa Branch) Mindy (Lena Clark) and Kevin (Damon Lipari) goes disastrously wrong when one of the facility’s alien inmates takes advantage of their visit to escape from his cell. How much do the journalists really want to see what goes on at Area 51?
Starring: Bruce Boxleitner, John Shea
Directed by: Jason Connery
Runtime: 90 minutes
Studio: Lions Gate
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDBReview: 51
Area 51 has fascinated millions for quite some time. Its ties to secrecy and extraterrestrial life continue to this day. In Jason Connery’s 51 public pressure has led to the military agreeing to open the gates leading into Area 51 and allowing its secrets to be laid bare. They have nothing to hide. Well, they do and they’re keeping those bits to themselves but the rest of the base is open to a news veteran Sam Whitaker (John Shea) who brings along with his camerawoman Mindy (Lena Clark). Also invited are Claire Fallon, a journalist and her cameraman Kevin (Damon Lipari). The group are shown around the base by Colonel Martin (Bruce Boxleitner) who has his soldiers on red alert. This is supposed to be a warm and insightful welcome but things become a little complicated when a captive alien manages to break free and proceeds to liberate fellow aliens before slaughtering everyone in his path. The other aliens help out too. Bless them.
Area 51 has a handful of aliens on site though hidden deep within the facility. The one that causes trouble has the ability to turn into anything it touches and mimic them. This is The Thing and Terminator 2 territory of course. Our deceptive alien begins accessing the security network and liberates two more aliens – a mother and her baby – that slaughter anything in sight. It soon becomes necessary for Col Martin to admit that he hasn’t been completely honest with his guests. He pretty much waits until the aliens are bursting through the doors before conceding this information. Those in Area 51 face a desperate struggle to keep the aliens contained and prevent them escaping into the wide world. The good news is there is a friendly alien on site who must have been to Jedi school as he has abilities akin to the Force and proves almost as useful an ally as Yoda would in this situation.
51 doesn’t take long to get going which is something of a relief but when it does there isn’t anything particularly redeemable or exciting about it. While our guests are shown some groovy technology at the outset, we frequently cut to the soldiers on the surface led by Sgt Hannah (Rachel Miner) who has earned her high rank but has to contend with male chauvinist colleagues. The macho men all inevitably bite the dust pretty quickly when the aliens are loose but Sgt Hannah takes some finishing off as she enters Ripley mode. There is plenty of blood and gore but by the end 51 has offered a pretty lame experience bereft of anything noteworthy and the aliens aren’t especially hard to kill either. It just takes everyone a while to figure out how you nail them.
51 is another poor attempt at an alien killing spree. I’ve seen enough of these films to know it can be done right and that a good story, interesting characters and a classic alien villain are the perfect tonic for a great film. Sadly 51 fails to deliver any of these ingredients and by the end you will be relieved at the short run time for this one.
Verdict: 1/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
About the Author:
I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.
David M. Brown – who has written 697 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.
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