Apollo 18

Apollo 18...2011...86 minutes...PG-13...starring Warren Christie, Lloyd Owen, and Ryan Robbins...written by Brian Miller...directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego

So, many people know that the Apollo 17 mission was the last launched mission of the Apollo program, 18-20 being cut for budgetary reasons. However, what if there had been an Apollo 18 mission that we had never heard about? Why would there have been such an elaborate cover-up? Isn't the moon a stage set anyways? Anyways, we have discovered footage of this "lost" mission...yeah, yeah, yeah, you know the drill by now. Recovered film, things we weren't meant to know, etc etc etc ad nauseum.

I know, my tone up front doesn't sound positive...and I'll be equally up front when I say that I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough with this concept. That said, I will say that I found myself liking the fact that there was a serious attempt to make the "found footage" appear authentic, and people interested in filming and different cameras might find this an interesting exercise. The actors do their jobs well; they really are trying to sell what I consider a flawed product and I had no problems with their performances. Little things like physics and biology got into my way as well...and normally I have no problem with setting aside my notions of hard science for the sake of story.

Let's face it, for many people the supernatural in general is a rough sell...I know there are people who just can't get into werewolves, vampires, ghosts...too much stuff to have to buy into. I personally am oriented the other way around...my brain has room for things of your more typical horror fare, and some crossovers between science fiction and horror I've found enjoyable. But tell me about a fake moon mission, and then posit the reasons why this mission was covered up...too much. I just couldn't go on this ride. (Maybe I'm just getting old.)

Not much in terms of suspense, and...okay, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but really, if you're going to do this sort of film, I'd say stick with Paranormal Activity. Really.

I give it 2 moon rocks out of 5.