Monsters (2010)

Elevator Pitch: In on screen info we are told that NASA has sent a probe to investigate the possibility of extra-terrestrial life in the solar system, but on the way back it breaks up over Mexico. Later northern Mexico is populated by creatures, seeming beyond the control of the US military. Photojournalist Andrew Kaulder is sent by his employer to find his daughter Samantha to the south of the infected zone. Andrew finds her, but loses their passports resulting in them having to make their way through the infected zone, being guided by various locals, all of whom are killed leaving the Americans, still slightly at odds making for the border on foot.

Content: No sex or nudity although it is implied that during a drunken night Andrew has sex with a local, who steals their passports. Therefore although they have successfully negotiated a boat trip they can’t take it. Once on the trail they take a small boat on a river; creatures are heard in the distance, sounding a bit like whales. Later they are guided by armed Mexicans all of whom are killed when their convoy is attacked by the monsters, which look a bit like luminescent octopuses. The two make it through the wall on the US border, but it is evident that the monsters have got there before them. 

A View: This film is well known for being made on the hoof by Edwards and a very small team using local people to fill the various roles as required. McNairy and Able were a couple at the time and did pretty well. The budget was apparently a miniscule $500,000 so it did make a bit of money, and might have made more with some publicity. While the plot seemed fine it lacked a proper script I think, but nevertheless not the worst way of passing an hour and a half.

Here are a few more low cost alien invasion films reviewed on this site: Decoys 2: Alien Seduction, Robot Overlords, 10 Cloverfield Lane.