Area 51 (2015)

The Blair Witch Project is one of the worst things that ever happened to cinema, not only is it vastly overrated and irritating, but it spawned the whole found footage subgenre that has been plaguing the movie theatres for the last decade.  However, at least The Blair Witch Project had a clever marketing campaign (it was promoted as being real footage) that stirred up audience interest, the later found footage movies tend to relegated to DVD purgatory, until they are eventually picked up by Netflix.  There are a few found footage movies I do like (V/H/S, V/H/S 2, and Evidence), but these are the exceptions rather than the rule.  The V/H/S movies are an anthology series that have some genuinely creepy stories, effects, and editing.  Evidence has a framing device that justifies the found footage:  two detectives hope that videos taken by the victims at a murder scene can lead them to the killer. Also, a credible reason is given for the victims to continue recording, despite their lives being in jeopardy – they know their inevitable fates, but hope that their video footage can help apprehend the killer.  Though, in all honesty, Evidence is a pretty bad movie that I just have a soft spot for. 

Area 51 represents everything I find loathsome about the found footage genre –bland acting, an over use of the shaky cam to add “tension” to the proceedings, and totally irrational behavior by the lead characters.  The “plot” centers around three bros (Reid, Darrin, Ben) who hope to break into Area 51. They join up with an attractive woman, Jelena, whose father used to work at the facility, and all sorts of hilarity….er I mean horror ensues.  Of course, we already know that they are going to come to a bad end, because the movie tells us right off that bat– the movies opens with a documentary crew interviewing the relatives of the three men, bemoaning the fact that they might never see them again. Way to diffuse the suspense there, movie.   

Ben, the horniest one out of the lot, is reluctant to go along with the plan and threatens to back out on several occasions, only to have his mind changed by Reid, the weirdo of the group.  While Ben maybe a douche bag, he is the only one in the group that exercises common sense – hell, I think he might have been onto something when he suggested that instead of going to Area 51, they should spend the weekend in Vegas.  Ben, however, doesn’t actually sneak onto the base, he is the getaway driver. I was personally hoping that the movie would end with Reid and company running for their dear lives across the desert (while aliens and military men chased after them) only to find, to their abject horror, Ben had ditched them. The movie would then cut to Ben in Las Vegas, hitting on beautiful showgirls, and gambling all of his money away.  No such luck!  

I’m also baffled by Darrin’s behavior – he’s all gung ho about breaking into the base, until it is revealed that Jelena is going along. It is only then that he gets a bit apprehensive about the plan, but thankfully, stupidity triumphs and he listens to Reid.  Jelena is, I guess, there to supply the eye candy…..I really don’t know her function because she really adds nothing to the movie, other than, “Hey, this looks familiar.” Now, I’m sure a fan of Area 51 will argue that Jelena is the most important character in the movie, but the fact is that Reid could have sneaked into the base without her assistance. Plus, she is nothing but a burden once they get in.  

Reid, as you probably have guessed, is the ring leader and a complete nutcase – he is a recovering alien abductee.  He constantly jeopardizes the mission by either breaking into houses, or standing in the middle of the road.  I’m actually making this movie sound a lot more interesting that it really is. Trust me, watching Area 51 is on par with watching two hour movie about a tractor slowly driving down a road and occasionally stopping, while the driver takes a gulp of water. 

I would talk about the technical merits of the movie, but they are none. The camera is either constantly shaking, zooming in on things, or completely out of focus. It never remains still, because a steady camera simply isn't scary.  When the filmmakers REALLY want to amp up the terror, they turn on the night vision. OOOHHH!  


There are a lot of jump cuts in the movie, which is odd, because this is supposed to be “found footage,” which means it should be unedited. Plus, given the fact that there are hostile aliens in captivity at Area 51, you would think that there would be much tighter security on the base – the only real threat standing between Reid and his buddies from getting into the underground facility is the friggin’ night janitor. The security guards pose no threat, because they always have their backs turned towards our protagonists.  If only the janitor would have seen Reid hiding in that cubicle, then maybe, just maybe, tragedy could have been avoided.  

Credits
Cast: Reid Warner (Reid), Darrin Bragg (Darrin), Ben Rovner (Ben), Jelena Nik (Jelena), Roy Abramsohn (Jim Nelson), Frank Novak (himself), Glenn Campbell (himself ), Conception West (waitress), James Decker (Kooky Local).
Director: Oren Peli
Screenplay: Oren Peli, Christopher Denham.
Running Time: 91min.