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Summary

A teenage girl makes friends with an alien after it crashes in the desert. Writer/director Matthew Loren Oates's fantasy adventure, starring Lulu Wilson and Omari Hardwick

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Calum Baker

Sci-fi classics ET the Extra-Terrestrial and Alien make unlikely bedfellows but are the key touchstones for this low-budget fable, in which an isolated Texas teen bonds with a dangerous creature from space. Middle-schooler Renee (Lulu Wilson) already owns a lizard, a scorpion, a tarantula and a snake, but one day finds a new critter to nurture: the pony-sized alien terror that has crash-landed in the nearby desert. Unfortunately, a circle of ruthless government agents (led by Omari Hardwick's vengeful interrogation specialist) are out to catch this toothy beast and don't necessarily have its best interests in mind. The story's Spielbergian streak is balanced with some well-judged darkness: there are moments of brutal violence, plus a prominent subplot involving the alcoholic boyfriend (Paul Schneider) of Renee's depressed mother (Wrenn Schmidt). Matthew Loren Oates directs with unfussy charm and designs some clever effects - not least the fantastic practical get-up that allows actor Garrett van der Leun to play the hulking, xenomorph-style creature. Overly familiar themes and storytelling approaches, culminating in a somewhat uninteresting final act, hold the film back, but it powers along well enough on its unforced adolescent sincerity, personified by Wilson's impressive lead performance.

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5.2/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameReneeLulu WilsonCroakGarrett van der LeunJonathan KeyesOmari HardwickLindaWrenn SchmidtChasePaul Schneider (2)GilTrae RomanoAgent BrowneJosh Cooke

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Crew

rolenameDirectorMatthew Loren Oates

Details

Released on

2025-10-24

Languages

English

Guidance

Violence, swearing.

Formats

Colour

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