Rent Earth to Echo (2014)

Earth to Echo review by Michelle Sommerville - Cinema Paradiso

Earth to Echo is one of those films where you watch the trailer and see the poster and you honestly do not know what to expect. The poster, for some reason, reminded me of Wall-E, while the trailers reminded me more of Super 8 and E.T. None of these things are bad, but film is a medium where audiences always want something fresh and new. For me, Earth to Echo was different enough to make it entertaining, but this probably will not be the same for every viewer.

One would think the film to be about zombies when you see the way these tweens are addicted to their phones. Not quite. When a group of misfit kids start getting strange text messages and their phones glitch and go screwy, they decide to try and work out what is happening. They manage to decrypt a map, and, with their cameras and GoPros, etc., all turned on, they head for the centre of the disturbance. It is there that they discover an alien - which they name Echo - and find themselves protecting the harmless creature while running from the encroaching authorities.

There are more good then bad aspects of this film, so I will get the bad over with first. I do not know how many more ‘found footage’ films can be made. Surely everyone else is bored with it too? This is essentially a little-kid version of a ‘found footage’ film, however some of the story makes it seem rather inappropriate for kids. Parts of the film involved drinking and underage partying, so parents need to do their homework before deciding to show this to their kids.

Now the good parts. The visual effects were pretty good. I have seen a lot worse, and I could not really find fault with these. Echo was interesting, and who can forget the disassembling and reassembling of the truck?

The script was both funny and clever, with interesting dialogue that sounded real-enough, and not overly fake.

The kid actors did a good job too. None were ‘known’ actors that you had seen everywhere, so it is refreshing to see new talent. They have a good chance at a future in the industry.

Reviews have been pretty mixed. Some see it as good entertainment that will keep the kids happy, with the parents reminded of their childhood and watching E.T. Other reviews have not been as welcoming. With so many similar films that have large fan followings, it is easy to see why some reviewers have been harsher and more protective of previous works.

There are always going to be positive and negative reviews for every film, and the main thing is to check them out for yourself. Earth to Echo is a surprisingly enjoyable film that is intelligently written and should not only keep the kids entertained, but also the parents and guardians who watch it with them.