First things first, let’s get something out of the way. Director Nacho Vigalondo’s new movie is not an alien invasion film. There are giant UFOs in the movie to be sure but don’t expect a Spanish version of War of the Worlds from the new film by the director of Time Crimes.
Extraterrestrial, or as it’s known in its native country Extraterrestre, is a romantic comedy set under the looming shadow of a science fiction movie. The film is a story told on the fringes of something big and epic but you know what? Those fringes are ultimately much more satisfying than almost every big budget, killer alien movie to have been released in the last few years.
Julián Villagrán plays Julio, a lanky designer who wakes up in a strange apartment after a one-night stand. The apartment belongs to Julia, played by Michelle Jenner. The two, recovering from a never-shown drunken night together, wake up to discover their city is empty and a giant UFO is hovering over the sky. While in your average Tom Cruise or Will Smith movie, this would signal a two-hour, explosion-filled battle for Earth’s survival, in Extraterrestrial this is the start of quiet, thoughtful film about two people falling in love despite a few obstacles in the way. Yep, Extraterrestrial is a romantic comedy and it’s damn good.
The biggest obstacle preventing Julia and Julio from running off into the UFO-filled sunset is the fact that Julia already has a boyfriend. Raúl Cimas plays Carlos, a genuinely good-natured guy who hiked a day’s journey to be reunited with his long-time girlfriend after the aliens made their presence known. Carlos does not suspect Julia and Julio shared a night together. In fact, he cheerfully embraces Julio as his new best friend.
Unfortunately, there is somebody who knows Julia and Julio’s secret and he’s a colossal prick. Carlos Areces plays Ángel, a plump nerd obsessed with Julia. Carlos and Julia’s neighbor, Ángel knows what happened between Julio and Julia and is determined to let Carlos know — not out of any loyalty to Carlos but because he’s furious that this stranger shared a night with the woman he loves.
Julio and Julia’s plot to silence Angel soon spirals out of control and leads to Carlos being transformed into a paranoid survivalist nut convinced aliens have infiltrated his friends. The story may sound twisty but compared to Vigalondo’s Time Crimes, Extraterrestrial is a simple and very sweet love story that would make an excellent date night film.
The power of Extraterrestrial lies in Vigalondo’s script. The film’s charming character moments grow naturally under the shadow of an unknown alien threat. The character’s relationships feel genuine and the slow, thoughtful pace of the film helps to sell the idea that this is a movie about how real people would react in a sci-fi situation. Just because aliens have landed does not mean people would give up all the petty jealously and romanticism that surrounds their life on a daily manner. In fact, the heightened fear of the unknown would make people cling to what they do know even more — boredom, fear and, most of all, love.
Extraterrestrial‘s action is almost completely limited to a single apartment building but Vigalondo retains that cinematic flair he first showed in Time Crimes by filming the movie in a way that never lets it feel lethargic. The action, what little there is, pops as frequently as the film’s humor — humor that works very, very well.
Extraterrestrial is a smart, funny film and makes a much better gateway science fiction film than this summer’s Another Earth. A great mix of sentimentality and wit, the film is just another glimpse at the raw talent that is bubbling under writer/director Nacho Vigalondo’s surface — just waiting to be let loose. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another four years for the next film from this very talented filmmaker.
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Notable Cast: Michelle Jenner, Carlos Areces and Julián Villagrán
Writer: Nacho Vigalondo
