Rent Ejecta (2014)

Ejecta review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

There are three perspectives for the alien investigation of Ejecta. One is the standard shooting method of staging proper shots and lighting for the interrogation scenes. Another is the headcam of the soldiers tracking down the elusive extraterrestrial characters. Finally, there is the found footage format of (who else?) a documentarian tracking down any information relating to aliens. All of this may make the movie seem as though it has a variety of style, but it comes off as more of a mish-mash of substandard ideas - never deciding which one to favor and perfect.

It’s a story entirely reliant on its own atmosphere, centering around the alien-probed William (Julian Richings). Used as a voice for the interested and dark creatures, William is a lanky mess of a man who constantly hears the aliens and cannot sleep for fear of more voices. He’s also cursed with some sort of immortality the way bullets cannot take him down. A government agency takes interest in Williams and what he knows about these beings from outer space. They drill into his head and review the footage of the documentarian following him around, but William will not budge in his immortality. He’s grown so paranoid from being messed with that he really wants to die and a brain-frying machine used to extract his information just won’t do the trick.

While the filmmakers do their best to build on the mystery of this sci-fi/horror, they forget to make it all intentionally entertaining. More often than not, Ejecta is far more entertaining for how ridiculous it becomes. William is questioned by an over-the-top nasty agent that speaks with a devilish smile and doesn’t even blink to shoot a soldier who does not obey her. She’d be the best part of the movie if it weren’t for Richings putting his all into the central character. He seems to be the only one taking his role seriously and, to his credit, he’s one of the genuine highlights. I bought into his paranoia if not from his emotional responses than for his pale and thin stature of a man that reeks of conspiracy theories.

All the other actors seem to be playing it for laughs or not playing at all. Lisa Houle is far too goofy as the female bad cop, despite being one of the campiest roles in the picture. Adam Seybold is a bit of a bore as a simple documentarian who leaves the camera on at all times (even while driving which begs the question of who keeps a camera running from the backseat). The rest of the roles are entirely forgettable and bland. At one point Seybold’s character is given the stink-eye by a local hillbilly with his white beard, overalls and shotgun. You forgot the extra missing teeth and dirty hat to make him the full stereotype.

But are there any decent frights? Surprisingly, the movie is shot with some skill at creating imagery which may not be terrifying, but at least shows some craft. Richings and Seybold watch from a distance as a UFO careens towards the earth with its lights and fire - appearing rather believable given the distance and darkness. The invading alien creatures are decently enough designed and hidden for most of the movie as not to make them overdone. I’d also like to applaud the filmmakers for not sticking with the bland Grey design of invading aliens. Give me some claws and fangs already!

Despite some unique ideas here and there, Ejecta just doesn’t quite live up to its potential. I really wanted to care about this secret alien invasion and the cover-up behind it all, but just couldn’t get there the way everything feels slightly hammed up by the tone and the acting. As far as modern horror movies about evil aliens, you could do worse than Ejecta. Then again, there isn’t a big supply or demand for these type of movies so take that into consideration.