Plot
On the first days of the alien (or “attackers”) invasion, cancer stricken Sam finds herself paired with British Eric, in her native New York City.
Desperate to get to have her favourite pizza one last time, they task themselves with getting it for her, meanwhile staying clear of the sound sensitive monsters.
Direction
Directed by Michael Sarnoski, who I have previously reviewed his film Pig. He takes over the direction from John Krasinksi, who returns to write and produce this installment.
He has a Gareth Edwards type visual style to him here, and it was reminded me of his work in Godzilla and Monster.
There are some solid sequences within, especially the initial attack that resembles the real life tragedy that occurred in New York in 2001.
I also loved how the camera lingers on Sam close up during some harrowing sequences (like when she is hiding under a car etc).
Cast
Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong’o plays Samira “Sam”. She is a former poet, who is in her final weeks of aggressive cancer. When the invasion hits, she is paired with young British lawyer Eric, played by Joseph Quinn. Together they assist each other, and form a bond as they are seemingly left alone in the metropolis of New York City.
Alex Wolff plays Reuben, Sam’s cancer nurse, who is with her during the first days of the invasion.
Djimon Hounsou as Henri, who appears in bookends of the film, just before the invasion – and towards the end.
Breakdown
Similar to AQP Pt 2 – this starts with the events prior to the alien invasion – but unlike the previous films – this one is focused entirely on the events, and days after the invasion itself.
We are introduced to Sam/Samira, who is an in house cancer patient at a cancer clinic outside New York City. One day they head into the city for a concert, when the invasion hits.
This must have been a difficult scene to both film and watch, for how closely it resembles the 9/11 attacks. It doesn’t last long, but it has the same look and feel about it.
Following the attack, Sam finds herself with a group of survivors – who seemingly know straight away to keep quiet from the monsters and attackers. I really thought they dropped the ball here, as it is never explained how the survivors know so quickly that the ‘attackers’ have super sonic hearing.
Sam – along with her support animal Frodo (who is either CGI or the best damn trained cat in cinema) depart the survivor group (that includes AQP -Pt2’s Djimon Hounsou), in order to go to her favourite pizza parlor and pray that there is ‘one slice left’. This is when she runs into Eric, a British lawyer – who is desperately homesick and terrified of what is going on.
The pair complement each other throughout their time together; where Sam is able to give Eric the calm he needs at times when he is clearly nearing panic, and Eric giving Sam the friendship she needs, but pushes away. She shunned those at the hospice where she was staying, and was cold at times to Reuben, even though he thought them friends. This is clearly due to her advanced cancer, and she doesn’t want to get close to anyone to hurt them when she goes.
I really liked their time together, from the human elements (letting their emotions out, screaming under the thunder storms) to each of them showing bravery (Eric going to get her medications), Sam’s sacrifice – and even the tension that the invasion brings about (the escape of the aliens/attackers in the building lobby sequence).
This film has a little more dialogue than the first two films, but it still relies heavily on non verbal communication, as well having a powerful score. When the dialogue does occur, it is brilliant, including parts where Sam’s poetry is read aloud.
The final rush to get to the final boat we as the viewer should have seen coming, with *** spoiler *** it being Sam who sacrifices herself to save Eric and Frodo. It makes sense, since she ultimately is dying when me meet her, but it doesn’t hurt any less knowing what is going to happen once the camera fades to black.
Overall
I really liked this, and thought it was a solid ‘other’ view of the original invasion (with just a hint of a cross over from the other films).
I’m interested to see if there will be any more films in the franchise, and how they will continue some of these characters stories.
Solid recommend.
4/5
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