A spiritual descendant of Predator, Osiris is the latest film from William Kaufman. A group of Army Rangers has been kidnapped by aliens and finds themselves trapped in what seems to be a trophy room. After Kelly (Max Martini), Rhodie (LaMonica Garrett), and Nash (Linds Edwards) are taken, they must find their way out of captivity. Accompanied by a young girl named Ravi (Brianna Hildebrand) who’s been a captive of these aliens all her life, the three rangers attempt to stave off the onslaught of these seemingly unstoppable alien commandos.
I must note something, gentle reader. The smaller the budget on a science fiction film these days, the better the visual effects look. Since Godzilla Minus One, it has become clear that when you only have a budget to employ one visual effects unit, they will make the visual effects sparkle and pop. This is in direct contrast to the mega-budget productions of Marvel and Lucasfilm, or even DC. On those productions, they employ many different Visual effects teams to do a few special effects each. The result is slop. Here, with just one lean unit, the result is visually brilliant. Ergo, the visual effects in Osiris are simply stunning.
Eventually, the three Rangers will encounter Anya (Linda Hamilton). She is Ravi’s mother and a Soviet special forces commander. Besides providing brief bouts of essential exposition, Anya is there to set the stakes for the soldiers. They are trophies. They could easily become food. In order to escape captivity, they must all work together. Fighting against a force of soldiers whose technology adapts to prevent you from killing them is no easy feat. Thus, do they need to work in full cooperation?
LaMonica Garrett as Rhodie takes aim in William Kaufman’s sci-fi action film Osiris.
“This squad of Army rangers are trying to escape some hungry, deadly aliens.”
Osiris is a wonderful film. Produced for less than 10 million dollars, it calls to mind the hallmarks of great combat action films of the 80s. If Jon McTiernan were working now, this is the sort of film he would make. Max Martini, Brianna Hildebrand, Lind Edwards, and LaMonica Garrett all turn in exceedingly believable performances as captives of Aliens who want nothing more than to eat you. Linda Hamilton’s Anya is used wonderfully well. Her expository digressions are short and to the point. There is no need to over-explain a thing. The script, drafted by William Kaufman and Paul Reichelt, is quite economical in its use of dialogue. Here, the film is meant to be a combat and action showcase. Osiris excels at demonstrating both visual tropes.
There are numerous shocking twists over the course of Osiris, and I will spoil precisely none of them. This film is meant to be watched more or less blind. All you need to know is that this squad of Army Rangers is trying to escape some hungry, deadly aliens.
The practical effects team really excelled at developing the Alien physiology. A miasma of wrinkled skin, jagged teeth, and massive nostrils in place of a nose. The unnamed alien species would be creatures I would love to see tangle with a Predator. I suspect strongly that it would prove an even fight.
Osiris, in short, is a ball-busting good time. Take your group of friends and find a theater it’s playing at. This is the popcorn and Coke event of the summer.
"…a ball busting good time..."
