Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Kids vs. Aliens’

4/17/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Stores that feature children and aliens, side by side… tend to be supremely fuzzy and uplifting in nature and rightfully so. After all, going that route allows for a real wholesome story to be told. One where the children in question… remind us that adulthood often allows for us to lose our sense of focus and wonder, and that those elements are essential to keeping an open mind about the world and perhaps the universe. Which in turn allows for beautiful moments to play out, the kind where eventually humankind and the alien species in question become fast friends and potentially can build upon that friendship to create a lasting intergalactic peace.

In fact, that formula is so wholesome and joyous that it is rarely deviated from, simply because audiences love it, and it really does fill that little beaty thing in our chests with joy and majesty. Enough to make the day better. But going that route does beg the question… is that the only thing that can be done with such a story? Because that formula also limits the potential of such tales and at times… offers up a worldview that isn’t realistic in nature, since the world can sometimes be a cruel place, and it is what we make of those cruel situations that matters more. Which is why it is refreshing to run into stories in this vein that work to do something differently with this age-old formula to challenge the audience and tell a different kind story, and it just so happens that Shudder is now host to a bold story that shakes up the tooth-aching sweetness often featured in these stories in Kids vs Aliens.

A feat that this movie accomplishes by plunging us into a world where happy joy-joy feelings aren’t always possible, and where the world isn’t always perfectly wholesome. For early on in this film we are introduced to a pair of siblings named Gary and Samantha, who are often left to their own devices thanks to a duo of parents that care more about their time together, than time with their kids and that puts these siblings in a tough place, often. Where they don’t know when playtime begins, and playtime ends and where their interests are limited because of the forced boundaries they have created to get by. But the sudden arrival of a dreamy boy in Samantha’s life, and an impromptu alien invasion, is about to change that uncomfortable monotony for this duo, for better or worse… depending on how they desire to handle the new challenges this new normal presents them with.

Which is a plot that at first glance seems to lean harder into the wholesome stuff we are used to. After all, an alien invasion should be cause for siblings to unite and teach those aliens about love, as these stories are wont to do. But instead… this allows for the story to explore so much more. Such as the horrors of the world and the horrors of being a kid, especially when bullies and buffoons come into our lives in our youth. Wherein we feel helpless to stop them from constantly picking up on us and making our lives miserable. Which is what Samantha’s new honey turns out to be, and he creates nothing but trouble and brings heartache and strife into this family’s life and the aliens themselves… are also the stuff of nightmares. Since they don’t phone home or do cute things. They are out to cause great harm.

That leads to an incredible finale for the film, wherein the kids don’t try to befriend these beings… they fight them and fight them hard. Giving rise to some epic action sequences that harken back to the badass we all wanted to be when we were tiny and vulnerable and unable to do much but huff against a world that didn’t take us seriously. Making this an anthem for our youth and the hero we aspired to be. Plus, it makes for a great third act that has you rooting for the kids to beat these aliens and enact a little payback on the bully that's made their lives hell, and it also shockingly… leads to some stunning guts and gore. Since the aliens see humans as the perfect vessel to conduct scientific experiments on, and that brings out some gross moments that make this a magnificently refreshing horror and science fiction story.

Just because… it breaks the mold of movies in this vein and really forces the kids to be more than cliché. It makes them warriors and celebrates the ingenuity of children and their resilience, and it doesn’t hurt that this movie is also a love letter to horror. Since it features all the pomp and circumstance and flashy visuals of the classics. But above all… this is just a fun movie. One that really does put a smile on your face by breaking from the formula and for giving us a bold and original plot that offers a bevy of surprises that we haven’t discussed here and with good reason. Simply because… you need to experience the many twists and turns in this story firsthand and the best news of all is that you can right now, since Kids vs Aliens is available to stream on Shudder and we hope you give it a look. Since you can never go wrong with a horror feature that looks to break the mold and give audiences something exciting and new.

0 Comments