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Outlander (2009)

Director: Howard McCain

Time Out rating

Average user rating

6 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

You can imagine the pitching session. ‘Okay, I need ideas, people. Cowboys vs zombies? Too obvious. Pirates vs vampires? Too expensive. Wait, I got it! Vikings vs aliens!’ Yes, it’s ‘Beowulf’ with tentacles, as jobbing space-cop Kainan (Jim Caviezel) crash-lands in twelfth-century Scandinavia and accidentally unleashes one seriously cranky, spectacularly toothy space beast. When the animal goes on the inevitable rampage in the mead hall of King Rothgar (John Hurt), Kainan’s the only one with the knowledge and skills to end the monster’s reign of terror.

Director Howard McCain has assembled a remarkable cast for what is essentially a deeply silly slice of B-movie hokum: erstwhile godhead Caviezel seems a little lost, but Hurt and Ron Perlman – both of whom have had some experience with intergalactic carnivores in the past – look like they’re having a whale of a time. No dark-age cliché is left unexploited, from swords, sandals and excessive drinking to buxom wenches and strapping warriors with names like Freya and Wulfric (and even, with no detectable irony, Boromir).

It’s all wildly predictable, laughable stuff. But McCain directs with terrific energy, making the most of his mud-spattered nordic locations and competent CGI and managing to keep an overstretched narrative compelling. He also never allows the film to descend into obvious self-parody: there’s a broad seam of playful mockery running throughout, but never to the point that it undermines the narrative. Daft, obvious but hugely enjoyable, ‘Outlander’ is superior trash.

Author: Tom Huddleston 2009-04-21 11:29:53

Time Out London Issue 2018, April 23-29, 2009

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User reviews of this film

k said...

Posted on Nov 01 2009 01:49 ...Yah, so the characters were a bit cardboard, it was still a worthwhile £8 DVD for me. I remember wanting to see it when it came out at the flix but never got around to it. In hindsight, though I enjoyed it on my telly, the incredibly original monster would've been extremely cool on the big screen. Its release so close to Beowulf was unfortunate, but it has been unfairly compared to it here. Forget Beowulf. Forget any 'historical accuracy' snobbery you might harbour. If you like a scifi monster flick, with a temporal twist you'd enjoy this film.

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Steve said...

Posted on Sep 15 2009 13:51 In my opinion, the beast alien was brilliant, very original - would be good to see a franchise of this monster perhaps. BUT the Vikings were laughable. Far too LOTR and severely lacking in authenticity which I thought was the Achilles Heel to an otherwise average movie. Concept was good enough for the film to be great if only enough time and nuture had been spent on it. Jon Hurt is a legend but not suited to the role. Ron Pearlman was the only decent viking representative and his role was unfortunately short lived...

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Rohne Hill said...

Posted on Sep 07 2009 19:47 Just because the film is essentially a dumb movie in concept doesn't mean it has to be a dumb movie in execution.
The film was solely comprised of cliches.
A Dog Soldiers approach to tired material would have gone down better.
And even for a buget film, a good script costs nothing.
About as imaginative as a soap dish.

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Gordon said...

Posted on Apr 30 2009 10:47 This film does not contain a single new idea. Even the characters' names were pinched from other films. Eric from The Vikings, Boromir from TLOTR. But if you like action, sci-fi, fantasy and romance, see it.

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Gordon said...

Posted on Apr 30 2009 10:45 It was a good bit of escapism that did not contain a single idea that was not pinched from another film. Even the names were pinched. Eric from The Vikings, Boromir from TLOTR. Every scene made me think of another film I have seen. If you like escapism, fantasy, action, see it.

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Paul said...

Posted on Jan 29 2009 00:58 I took my two 12 year old sons to see Beowulf and I liked it. I liked this film better but was a bit disappointed when I realised it was the same story but with a slight twist. I am still glad I watched it though and didn't find it boring. This isn't a film for the youngsters although my sons would disagree – Aliens, Vikings, scenes with beheadings, blood guts and battling monsters – what more could young teenage boys want? There is even a half baked attempt at hero gets the girl to keep mum happy. Mum wasn’t happy though and didn’t like the film one bit.

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