tomgleba Review of Area 51 Confidential

Area 51 Confidential (2011)

A surprising "found footage" film that works

[9/10 · 15 January 2012]

Frequent collaborators Brandon Slagle(15 Till Midnight) and Devanny Pinn(cathARTic) once again succeed in making a little look like a lot in "Area 51: Confidential". Avoiding the normal "found footage" pratfalls (hokey plot lines, cheap looking effects, terrible acting) this film works because of 3 things: inventive cinematography, superior performances, and an intriguing plot. Both Slagle and Pinn deliver the multi-faceted acting chops we've come to expect, and Wolfgang Meyer particularly shines as a confused refugee of the titular Area 51. Most of the real action takes place out of frame, or in the realm of the sound design of this film, thus keeping the effects budget low, and the locations really contribute to the feeling of isolation and impending doom associated with the plot line. I watched this right after viewing the similarly themed "Apollo 18" and found "Area 51: Confidential" to be the superior film, despite having what probably amounted to 1/100th the budget. Again, Hollywood, you're doing it wrong! No amount of pre-release hype, flashy effects, ADD style editing, mega-stars, and cash will ever trump a good idea and passionate film-making!