Many classic drive-in traditions are honored, including the “special guest star” authority positioning of the well-known cast members. The screen time for the parts is shorter than other roles, but the importance of the role in the establishment is much higher. Here it is: Sorbo as Mr. President and Arnold as Mr. Mayor. They used to do this all the time with John Saxon back in the day, which is why I still remember him as one of the U.S. presidents during the 70s. Sorbo is very believable as the president, as he takes the job seriously, as well as giving waves of we could do a lot worse. Arnold is perfect as a Nevada mayor, as he does a stressed-out public servant with a buzz on to a T. A superstar is also launched, as Mason achieves genre royalty in her first lead. She looks great running around with a gun, a true natural, and I suspect this won’t be the last time we will see her packing a rod.
“It isn’t fancy, but it overwhelms the nervous system in the most wonderful way.”
Most low-budget bug-eyed blasters can only afford one alien costume, which they shoot from different angles in multiple locations, making it look like several aliens are attacking. Alien Storm has plenty of rubber monster outfits, with swarms of aliens appearing onscreen at the same time. This goes beyond a triple cheeseburger of space death; this is one of those six-patty stacks with grilled cheese sandwiches as buns, the kind where if you can eat it in a certain amount of time it is free. There are also the creepy-looking practical gore effects, which are a diabolical delight. Fake blood and peeling latex are put on parade for our pleasure, just like the pitchfork fights held in ballfields at midnight in several small towns on the weekends.
This movie is overflowing with cheap thrills that are all top dollar, endlessly spitting out kicks like a broken ATM. Werth unleashes lighting that is hyper stylized, with primary colors devouring one wall after another. For the delivery of blood-soaked expectations, Werth sets the pacing to supersonic. While the story concept is built on the foundation of genre classics like The Fog and Dawn of the Dead, this movie gets down to business a lot quicker than both. It isn’t fancy, but it overwhelms the nervous system in the most wonderful way. Like a paper bag full of street drugs in a cheap hotel room, or a line of unknown powder atop a urinal in a dive bar, Alien Storm is a subterranean shock that tears down reality for the evening. We need drive-ins back in order to get movies like this back into their natural habitat. Alien Storm is everything you hoped it would be and more. Don’t bring an umbrella; just get soaking wet.
"…one of the best drive-in movies of the new century."
