ARROWHEAD/ ALIEN ARRIVAL

Australia, 2016, 98 minutes, Colour.

Dan Moore, Aleishaa Rose, Mark Redpath, Christopher Kirby. Voice of: Shaun Micallef.

Directed by Jesse O'Brien.

Australian director, Jesse O’Brien, made a short film and then amplified it into this feature. It is basically a science-fiction film, with some space travel, landing on an alien planet, alien creatures as well as an exploration of futuristic technology. It was made on a small budget, and in the desert sequences filmed in South Australia, around Coober Pedy.

However, it begins with a military situation, a clash between two generals, the victory of one, the imprisonment of followers of the other. There is a striking opening sequence where the prison soldiers are at work, under guard, the situation with an extractor machine, the prisoners taking advantage, even the central character trapped by a chain, shooting his leg off to prevent his going into the extractor. He is rescued and with the technology reconstituted with an artificial leg.

He is then called on by the defeated general to go on a mission, to get information from a planet. The film then turns into space action, the journey, the range of technology and means of communication (and, a surprise to many who admire him from his television programs and comedy skills, the technological voice is that of Shaun Micallef).

There are various complications on the planet, working on the technology, finding a rival scientist and interactions with her, the discovery of the body of another scientist, and some strange mindbending experiences with deaths, reconstructions – especially with the aid of a strange and devouring alien creature who absorbs the hero, who then can emerge reconstituted.

Years pass, the hero alone, the betrayal of the scientist, the confrontation with the general leading the uprising, the technology and the robots indicating that they have information to share, final confrontations.

In many ways the film is elementary although the opening sequence in the prison is effective, the landscapes of the alien moon impressive, and, on a small budget by first-time director, providing a science fiction adventure for those enthusiastic about the genre.