A thriller that takes a hard look at how do you fight an enemy you don’t fully understand
The idea in Hollywood of an alien species coming to Earth to invade is not a brand new one. It has been happening for decades and it is always a threat that people can see, hear and understand what their purpose is which is usually the destruction of the planet and the people on it. They usually travel from a distant planet but have also been known to come from our own solar system. They usually come equipped with some kind of dangerous ray gun and humanity appears helpless to stop their nefarious plans. The 5th Wave takes this genre in a brand new direction. This time around the threat is different. The species is unseen by viewers and this somehow makes them all the more terrifying. Here is what this writer thought of this movie.
One normal day in Ohio reports begin to come in of a strange object entering our solar system. It is all over the news and the reason for this visit from an advanced species is unknown. The species is given an ominous name ‘The Others’ and it turns out they have a heinous plan in store for us. They bring out four different waves that leaves most of the Earth devastated. After these attacks Cassie Sullivan (Chloe Grace Moretz) is forced to trek out on her own trying desperately to survive and find her younger brother Sammy ( Zackary Arthur). Along the way she is saved by a mysterious man named Evan Walker (Alex Roe). Together they have to do all they can to prepare for the fifth wave if only she can find a way to trust him. Who are the others? What plans do they have for Earth? And will Cassie be able to find a way to stop them before it is too late?
This movie is pretty good. It takes the earth invasion idea and gives it a new form which brings with it intriguing ways to look at an alien threat. This writer liked how they made the enemy unseen, this helped add to the mystery and also brought some cool twists as the film got to the final moments. The special effects are simple which added some realism to a picture that could have easily become too full of CGI. The cast does a really good job and helps bring the book to life while doing it justice at the same time. The best thing about this movie though is Chloe Moretz. This writer has seen her in a number of movies before but never has he seen her play a role like this. She is strong and yet also has her helpless times. Overall it is a fun film that is going to take audiences on a unique ride.
This movie gets 6/10. It will not be a movie for everyone though. There are some romantic scenes that felt unnecessary and don’t really feel genuine. Those who are not fans of alien invasion movies will want to avoid this one, they are sure not to enjoy it much. It also has a few gory moments that some people will find stomach churning and are not meant for the faint of heart. But other than that it is a clever picture that is a good choice to see with friends.
If you are a fan of movies that keep you guessing this one you will want to see. If you are looking for a different kind of science fiction film this is the one to pick. The 5th Wave comes out this Friday.
Check out the trailer below: