“Sometimes when I look out these little windows, I get the feeling there’s something out there looking back at us.”
The H-Bomb: Okay, just to get it out of the way, since I know it’s what we’re all thinking about: “Apollo 18” is exactly what the trailers make it look like… yet another “found footage” horror film. It’s “Paranormal Activity” in space, “Blair Witch” on the moon… whatever. This sub-genre of horror is getting old for some people, for others, it was never that interesting to begin with. Me, I don’t really mind the whole faux-documentary style all that much, truthfully. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all about the story, and whether it was scary (“Paranormal Activity”) or not scary (“Diary of the Dead”).
So is “Apollo 18” a scary film? It has its moments, but I’ll get more into that in a minute. The story is presented as a what-if conspiracy theory, the kind Fox Mulder would cook up. What if we did send another manned mission to the moon after Apollo 17? What if we actually found something there (aside from dirt and rocks)? If we did, why is it we never heard anything about it? D.O.D. cover up, dumbass! At least, that’s what the movie… erm… I mean, that’s what the ninety something minutes of film cobbled together from eighty four hours of raw footage anonymously uploaded onto some crackpot website would have us believe.
Three astronauts are assembled for a top secret mission to set up motion cameras and listening devices on the south pole of the Moon. They’re told it has something to do with spying on the Ruskies, and since the Department of Defense is heading up the operation, they don’t really question it. Two of the astronauts touch down on the Moon while the third remains in orbit, and at first everything goes smoothly, but then, and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, shit happens. Things go bump in the night. Equipment is being messed with. They find footprints that aren’t theirs, which lead them to something that shouldn’t be there. Something cripples their lunar module so it can’t take off, they lose radio contact with Houston (No! No! I am not going to say it!), and… did that rock just move by itself?
Yes, the astronauts realize that things are definitely not right with this mission, and now they must figure not only how to survive whatever the fuck is out there, but how to get the hell off this rock. All the thrills, chills, and mayhem are caught with the same kind of low grade shaky cam that made people barf at “Blair Witch” some twelve years ago. I must admit, when I first heard about this film a while back, my curiosity was piqued. A “Paranormal Activity” style flick in space… this could be cool. To the film’s credit, it actually uses the location to great effect. It really gives us a sense of hopelessness the characters must be feeling when bad things start happening. What could be worse than getting into a jam in outer space, where there is absolutely no one to help?
The story also kept me fascinated as I wondered what exactly this extra terrestrial threat could be. I’ve always had a soft spot for this kind of Sci-Fi horror, because I always imagine the possibilities, and in that sense, I was solidly engaged. But for me, the big letdown was when it was revealed what the aliens are. Don’t fret, I won’t spoil it, but it’s one of those revelations that’s going to make you go, “Really, movie? Really? That’s the best you could do?” It’s underwhelming bordering on downright lame.
Aside from the sense of mystery and claustrophobia the film creates, it never really rises to the level of scary. There are a few jump scares that work, but they’re just that, jump scares, which these days are just considered cheap. What could also be considered cheap is that the movie tries, through title cards and what have you, oh so hard, to sell us on the notion that this is real documentary footage. Sorry, some moviegoers (with learning disabilities) may have fallen for that back in ’99, but these days, come on! The fact that it has an actual music score, as well as cinematic transition effects, doesn’t help sell the “reality” angle, either.
The performances were surprisingly strong, given that’s an area where found footage flicks usually falter. Good acting does go a long way in making me care about the characters and their pickle, and here, I cared. While, again, I didn’t find it all that scary, it did have a strong atmosphere and an overall creepiness throughout. Also, the director and the script did a good job of keeping us guessing as to whether or not the astronauts will escape their predicament right up to the very end.
When all is said and done, “Apollo 18” is most definitely not a great movie, just an okay one. It had me going for a while with its decent build up, but as stated, once we actually see the aliens, it’s a letdown. Fans of this kind of horror flick won’t be blown away, but they won’t be disappointed, either. Should you drop ten bucks to see it on the big screen? Probably not. For both quality and aesthetic reasons, “Apollo 18” is probably best seen on the small screen.
