Weekly Review -- Spaced out

Apollo 18 (2011) -- Another day, another found footage entry. This Gonzalo López-Gallego film takes a new approach to the sub-genre with its exploration of a secret space mission, but loses steam more than once, even if managing to provide some innovative shocks.

While NASA has always led the public to believe that the Apollo 18 mission was one of the canceled Moon excursions, the story states that the modules did in fact land on the lunar surface. Soon afterward, the crew encountered hostile extraterrestrial activity. With problems plaguing the spacecrafts and strange occurrences quickly becoming the norm, the three astronauts had to be especially resourceful in order to return home... but what happened to them?

The big problem with Apollo 18 is its abruptness. The action begins before we have a chance to invest in the characters and the film is over before we have a chance to digest what had taken place. It seems as though a chunk of the narrative was cut out. Maybe it was NASA? Maybe it was aliens? Maybe we will never know, or perhaps it is simply shoddy storytelling. I am betting on the latter. Instead of having the beginning, middle and end to develop the characters and their circumstances, the film boasts a deficient introduction, an occasionally underwhelming middle section and a curt ending. The plot appears to be going through the motions, but the tension certainly picks up whenever there is a new lunar cave to explore or a new clue to humans not being alone. In this sense, the otherworldly location is utilized very well, its appeal revolving around its mystery and its malevolence shrouded in sterile darkness. I have to praise José David Montero's gorgeous, grainy cinematography, a true achievement in the context and service of this tale.  

The scares themselves are the best aspect of the film. While the alien design is not that  original, bringing to mind potential Cloverfield extras, it is the timing of the imagery that gives it a chilling effect. In particular, I am thinking of the moment when the camera freezes on something not quite... well, you will know the one. Sometimes it is not just about the idea, but what you do with it, and López-Gallego has a definite flair for creating horror scenarios. Most of the terror here comes from the unexpected, with all of the actors taking full advantage of the unique sequences.

I do not think that Apollo 18 can be considered one of the best found footage examples out there, but it does have merits. Too short to properly see the storyline through and too sparse to reach cult status, it nevertheless shows promise in its sensibility and I hope to see more genre entries from López-Gallego in the future. This is a film that one should watch if they wanted something a little bit left of centre on a dark, rainy day. 

5/10