If the title of this movie is not enough to give you some idea of what to expect from it, the opening credits sequence in which an abducted man is given a gory anal probe with a spinnning spiky metal instrument should. This is pure schlock territory in an early Peter Jackson vein. While director, Jake West manages to replicate the bountiful gore and sense of extravagant bad taste of those movies he is not quite able to truly replicate their odd charm.

It is certainly not that there is nothing to like here, there is actually a surprising wealth of original ideas utilised. The setting is unusual, interesting and being so isolated and cut off is actually almost feasible (sort of). There are also some fun characters amongst the crew who make up our band of intrepid UFO hunters not to mention the trio of practically feral Welsh farmers who become their unlikely allies. The aliens are better than the average fare for movies of this ilk and are well-reailsed and actually at times, threatening. The biggest immmediate stand-out however are the special effects which, though not perfect, are extremely good. The practical effects are fine, the alien costumes and battle armour are particularly good and the blood and gore effects are perfectly serviceable. The CGI is a little shonky in places but this generally adds to the camp feel of the film and is for the most part hugely impressive. The only times when it really grates is when it is used for things that should have been done practically, like blood spurts for example. When it is being used to show us huge alien spaceships docking with stone circles in order to recharge it works much better and looks somehow more realistic. In addition, the acting is of a fairly good standard throughout with an astoundingly sexy and self assured lead in Emily Booth.

There are also a wealth of inventive set pieces on display in Evil Aliens and much credit should go to Jake West for them alone. The scene in which one of the heroes drives a combine harvester at dozens of scurrying aliens to the sounds of The Wurzels' "I''ve Got a Brand New Combine Harvester" is stupidly funny and as outrageously gory as you might expect (though perhaps a little too reminiscent of the lawnmower scene from Braindead). The scene where the Welsh farmers face off against three aliens in a sort of Predator-meets-Clint Eastwood style is alot more original and better crafted if less of a crowd pleaser.

Taken as a series of set pieces or gore scenes Evil Aliens sounds a little better than it actually works as a full film unfortunately. Despite the inventive aspects of the script there is just not quite enough story to sustain the running time and with characters it is hard to really care about and no story to be drawn into there only the sillier excesses already mentioned to keep you watching. This is not entirely dissimilar to the films it is so intent on aping, they had characters and story a touch closer to their heart maybe whereas this has only more gory visual gags (of both kind).

There is no denying that this is a fun film which any fan of the over-the-top-and-then-some style of horror should watch. It is ultimately little more than an amusing diversion but that hardly matters, it is great to see movies like this being made in the UK.

7/10

Review By Matt Compton