Alien Hunter

-- Video Business, 10/16/2003

Color, R (language, violence), 92 min., VHS rental, DVD $24.95

DVD: commentary, deleted scenes, featurette, director's location scout

Street: Oct. 28, Prebook: now

First Run: Sci-Fi Channel, July 2003

Cast: James Spader (Secretary), Janine Eser (A Reasonable Man), John Lynch (Best), Leslie Stefanson (Unbreakable)

Director: Ron Krauss

COLUMBIA

Story Line: Scientists conducting a botanical experiment for the government in a remote South Pole facility are surprised to find a device that's apparently of extraterrestrial origin. Julian Rome (Spader) believes the object is an alien "black box" emitting a warning--but a warning of what? And to whom?

Bottom Line: One of science fiction's most venerable story devices involves the placing of an alien menace amidst an isolated group of scientists and/or military people. Used in countless sci-fi stories dating back 70 years or more, it has been used to great effect in such movies as The Thing (both versions) and the Alien movies, to name just a few. Dusted off for Alien Hunter, the gambit remains a potent one. As always in such yarns, suspense is generated by the reactions of the humans whose initial unease always blossoms into claustrophobic terror. That's where good acting comes in, and this film has just enough. Spader brings his trademark intensity and innate intelligence to the characterization of Rome, and although the supporting players aren't quite up to his level, they are more than amply credible for the demands of the script. Special effects and production values are commensurate with a medium-budgeted theatrical film. Spader's weekly visibility as a new cast member of David E. Kelley's The Practice can only help rental prospects. --Ed Hulse