Behind the rather generic title, Alien Code hides a surprisingly effective indie science fiction movie worth watching. We have a little bit of everything here. A bit of shady government stuff, time travel, crazy scientists, and a poor hacker caught in the middle of it all. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention them. You know who I’m talking about, they’re right there, in the title. So, this is quite an intriguing little mind-bender that’s going to tickle your sci-fi tentacles just the right way. The opening scene is not only gripping but also full of mystery. Mystery will be fully resolved only in the last twenty minutes.
We will be following young Alex Jacobs, a talented computer programmer and cryptographer who’s about to receive a strange job offer. You see, a group of people from the secret organization A.R.I.S.T. want him to do something for them. They don’t want to say what but they’re willing to offer him a lot of money. Strapped for cash, Alex accepts the job and changes not just his life but the lives of everyone alive forever. What sets Alien Code apart from all the other indie science fiction movies are not just solid production values and a refreshing, original story but also the performances.
In the lead role, we find young Kyle Gallner who was absolutely stunning. How this man is not more famous is beyond me. If you want more proof of what I’m talking about, you can check out The Cleansing Hour, Scream, and Smile. Apart from him, I would also like to mention both Azura Skye and Mary McCormack. All of them gave convincing performances that elevated the script to a whole nother level. They also helped to cover up some of the less thought-out elements of the movie. Sadly this is another one of those “hackerman” movies where programming and other “sciency” stuff is pretty superficial.
At least they’re not smashing the keyboard frantically and saying I’m in after a few seconds. And I guess that the Java import sequence was the correct one. On the other hand, I loved the brooding atmosphere that will seep into your room through the screen. It actually might be a bit too depressing. Luckily, the implications of the main story are there to save the day. Now, I know I’m not making a lot of sense now but I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Alien Code is one of those hidden science fiction gems you’re going to recommend to your friends as soon as you see it.
It’s Michael G. Cooney’s debut, who, oddly enough, wrote the script for the 2013 martial arts movie Man of Tai Chi starring Keanu Reeves. Curiously, the actual credits in the movie list Sam Havenhurst as a director and not Michael. Whatever the case is, you can clearly see that someone here had some pretty big ideas. And when I say big ideas, I really mean that. The finale is going to be fucking glorious. Moreover, it’s going to make up for all the little flaws you might’ve noticed. And when the credits roll, it’s going to be the only thing you’re going to be focusing on.
This brings me to the fact that Alien Code is actually a really creepy and frightening movie. There won’t be any graphic violence but there will be a couple of effectively chilling scenes. If you ever watched the television show Fringe you’ll be in familiar territory. Finally, if you’re looking for more hidden gems like Alien Code, do check out Artifice Girl, Cosmos, and Extracted.
Director: Michael G. Cooney/Sam Havenhurst
Writer: Michael G. Cooney
Cast: Kyle Gallner, Azura Skye, Mary McCormack, Richard Schiff, Graham Hamilton, Aaron Behr
Fun Facts: The beer Alex has been drinking is from Crux Fermentation Project in Bend Or.
Rating:
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5453522/
