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Apollo 18 (2011)

Director: Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego

Time Out rating

Average user rating

8 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

When a film arrives trailed by TV ads and bus posters but a notable lack of press previews, the expectation is that it’s unwatchably bad. But while ‘Apollo 18’ isn’t about to win any awards, there will be far worse films released in cinemas this year.

It’s best approached as a kind of minimalist horror movie, short on character development and narrative logic but possessing a sort of sparse, ragged charm. The film is constructed entirely of blurry, unconvincing but oddly compelling ‘found footage’ of a secret moon mission mounted by NASA, under the direction of the Department of Defence. Three interchangeably all-American astronauts – played by actors who remain uncredited, perhaps with good reason – are sent up to plant a mysterious tracking device, ostensibly to spy on Russian missile installations. But the discovery of a Soviet spaceship, and its mysteriously deceased inhabitant, lead our plucky heroes to consider the possibility that they might not be alone.

There’s a lot about ‘Apollo 18’ that simply doesn’t work: the effects are Z-grade, the plot goes precisely nowhere and the big revelation is frankly idiotic. But there’s a fair amount to enjoy, too: the intentionally rough editing and jagged sound design create an atmosphere of unsettling uncertainty, and the film has more than its share of cheap but effective jolts. For sci-fi fans with cash to burn and 90 minutes to kill, this just about achieves liftoff.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2141: 1 – 7 Sept, 2011

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User reviews of this film

ric said...

Posted on Sep 12 2011 10:34 Ok to watch.Was expecting more & it never delivered.
No doubt the US or any country cover up many deaths in real life.I would say thats scum & cowardly but at this time of year i will forgive them(bit off topic there i know)
3 Star

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critique said...

Posted on Sep 08 2011 23:35 Adequate addition to the increasingly laboured "found footage" genre.

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Sep 08 2011 22:17 30 years too late.....the VERY definition of a non event Pt.2, but id watch this again over CONAN (non event Pt.1) as its 20 min shorter. Think Ross steak burger when wanting, though in no way expecting steak....you got it! 4/10

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Numpty said...

Posted on Sep 08 2011 20:04 'Tom the reviewer' seems to highlight this films best qualities quite well (ignoring his plot spoilers!) but curiously doesn't give them much value in his rating(?)
I really enjoyed Apollo18.. worth a good 7/10 for me.
OK, so the effects were a bit basic and 'character development' limited; but It did manage to generate an atmosphere that felt both isolated and claustrophobic (which is more important for this scenario). I've just re-watched Tom Hank's Apollo13 for contrast... and found it flabby and sentimental by comparison.
'Minimalist Horror' is a good term, not quite 'Blair-Witch in Space' but you get the idea!

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chris said...

Posted on Sep 08 2011 11:23 thank god i dont pay ...15mins & walked out bbbbbbboring

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julie said...

Posted on Sep 04 2011 19:59 i am not into sci-fi but i loved this film ,forget the subject of the film and put yourselves there! waht would you do?

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Kane said...

Posted on Sep 04 2011 12:51 This film was ok it was a bit of a let down.

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Davy said...

Posted on Sep 04 2011 00:40 An undairly dismissive review, i think. Its the furst 'found footage' film i've seen where the conceit actually works (apollo missions were so ruinously expensive that everything was recorded so every scrap of data could be analysed) so the basic idea of constant filming actually works for once. The aliens were suitably bizarre, alien and sensibly never explained or even shown too clearly. Not a classic by any means, but certainly better than two stars implies. As a see-once in a dark room film, it's worth your time.

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