SCREAMERS
A film review by Chuck Dowling
Copyright 1996 Chuck Dowling
(1996) ** - C:Peter Weller, Jennifer Rubin.
"Screamers" had so much potential to be a good science fiction film. The basic story had promise, even though it seems similar to about a dozen various episodes of "Star Trek". In the year 2078, we have voyaged out into space and have started to mine other planets for minerals. A dispute erupts between the miners and the mining corporation and war is declared. The miners develop a security system of little tiny robots who live under the sand and attack any living thing that comes near them. Well, soon these little robots start to evolve and begin to enhance themselves into bigger mechanisms, ready to attack the people who created them and start their own race.
Somehow, in one step, these robots evolve from little tiny things into humanoid robots, able to blend in with other people and fool almost anyone. That doesn't make sense. There has to be some sort of evolution into something between the two. The film basically takes place in the desert and in dirty, lifeless bunkers, two places which are boring locations to tell a story. And the very last shot of the film is completely ridiculous. Can't a horror or sci-fi movie just end anymore? Do we always need a little "surprise" two seconds before the end credits roll? It's getting to the point that I'm surprised when there ISN'T a little twist in the final moments. Peter Weller ("RoboCop") does his best with what he's given to do, but it's just not enough to save this mess.
What had potential to become a fun and tense sci-fi flick, is ruined by poor writing, a depressingly downbeat tone, and very cheesy special effects. The lack of good writing can somewhat be blamed on the author of the short story on which the film is based, Phillip K. Dick, who is also responsible for the equally bleak and unentertaining "Blade Runner".
Have A Question Or Comment? Email Me At chuckd21@southeast.net
-- Chuck Dowling
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