Australiens
Who doesn't love a campy alien invasion movie? I certainly do, and Amazon knows it because it threw this one at me earlier in the week.
In the gloriously absurd tradition of Spaced Invaders and Mars Attacks!, Australiens is both a spoof and a loving homage to the genre. It's also low-budget indie film (IMDB estimates it at somewhere around $15,000 US) which makes the beautiful effects even more impressive.
Seriously: these are some of the best aliens I've seen in film.
So. Aliens invade Australia (and nowhere else). Their spinning saucers rain destruction on the cities. Lots of pew-pew and explosions. But what does it all mean?
Not-so talented rocker-chick Andi thinks it's all about her. See, 17 years ago she was visited by a flying saucer, an encounter which she believes gifted her with "otherworldly cognitive powers." Watch as the other characters mouth the oft-repeated phrase along with her, rolling their eyes. But maybe, just maybe, she's not full of it. Did she just crash that flying saucer with her mind?
That's when the movie really takes off, after the crash. Andi, her brother, cousin, and best friend - oh, and don't forget drunken bandmate John - finally get to see the aliens.
Hilarity ensues. Unfortunately for our heroes, the aliens can look just like us. Well. Sort of like us. But greener. And twitchy. Looks like the gang might have been infiltrated by an alien imposter. Surely you do not suspect John?
It gets funnier from there, all leading up to a final denouement that is as ridiculous as everything that came before. The series of reveals somehow manages not to overwhelm the viewer, which is impressive because there are four or five big ones in a row.
I was surprised when I sat down to watch this movie a second time and realized it was two hours long. It feels like 80 or 90 minutes. And while it is complete and satisfying, it does leave you wanting more.
At least one of the running gags may not mean much to anyone not Australian. It's OK. Just go with it. It's not hard to grasp, and it's directly tied in to the ending.
Also, when you get to the part where they ask the alien how it speaks English, make sure you're not drinking anything, or resign yourself to a spit-take. The funniest part of the movie is coming.
Australiens. Check it out, you won't be sorry.
