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The film has an awesome premise. 7 years ago, eight astronauts were abducted by a peaceful race of aliens. They became celebrities on alien planet… even managing to gain some political power. Factions were formed, and their struggle for power has broken the peace of the planet. In order to settle the dispute, the eight astronauts have been transported back to Earth to settle their differences in a battle royale of low-budget proportions. It’s actually a great premise, and with a little more cash and some trimming of the story, this could easily be a cult classic.

David M. Epstein, the writer/producer/director, is definitely a talented individual. The writing in the film is its highlight, and there are a few money moments, one-liners, and scenes throughout the film. However, as a director, Epstein has a little to work on. The pacing of the film is off, and the run-time feels about fifteen minutes too long. There are large chunks of time where characters are merely talking or running down the street, but they don’t actually add much to the film. The action scenes could use a little work, and be sped up a bit, but for a low-budget production, they are par for the course. Epstein’s work most resembles Peter Jackson’s work on Bad Taste, another film which appears to be an experiment in filmmaking. For a first piece of work, Epstein’s The Second Best Science Fiction Movie Ever Made is a nice place to start. I would suggest upgrading the camera that was used to shoot this film, as it gave the film a decidedly cheap look that won’t sit well in the age of digital cameras.

The film has solid bits of humor, action, and sci-fi scattered throughout, but they come in uneven doses. The humor especially fades near the end of the movie, which is sort of a disappointment, because I was laughing for the first hour or so. Kids swearing is always funny. There are some nice references to other sci-fi flicks throughout the movie, but again, everything seems to fade near the end.

Special effects in the movie are pretty low-budget, but they are definitely effective. There are some great visual effects, a hilarious giant head, and some nice make-ups throughout. The kills in the film are a little lacking, but they work for what the film is.

Overall, The Second Best Science Fiction Movie Ever is a nice start for an indie director, and hopefully it will lead to some upgrades in equipment and special effects for David M. Epstein. It would seem that he found a nice cast to work with because most of the people in the film actually come off as rather professional. I look forward to checking out more from this director in the future. Let’s just hope that Epstein’s Peter Jackson-esque start will translate into some Peter Jackson-esque growth as a director.

Final Synopsis: For a low-budget sci-fi flick, it’s not bad. If you’re looking for something underground and interesting in the vein of Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste, then this is the film for you. If you hated Bad Taste, then you might want to stay away.

Points Lost: -1 for humor that fades in the second half of the film, -1 for excessive exposition and character development, -1 for pacing problems, -1 for the cheap look of the film, -1 for some fight scenes that aren’t necessarily effective

Lesson Learned: I learned how to get a free workout from a gym without having a membership.

Burning Question: What is the second best science fiction movie ever?

The Second Best Science Fiction Movie Ever
5/10

Tags: david m. epstein, latest independent movie reviews, latest indie film reviews, latest indie movie reviews, latest movie reviews, low-budget, New Independent Film Reviews, new independent movie reviews, new indie film reviews, new indie movie reviews, sci-fi, science fiction, science fiction movie