"ALIEN COUNTRY" (2024) Invades With Family Friendly Sci-Fi Fun (REVIEW)

Remember when Orson Welles had a radio show in the 1930’s retelling “War Of The Worlds”, and scared so many people he had to publicly apologize? Well, Boston McConnaughey and Renny Grames’ first feature film “Alien Country” is nothing like that!! It’s fun, adorable, and action-packed for the whole family to enjoy. 

Reeling from the news of an unexpected pregnancy, Jimmy (K.C. Clyde) and Everly (Renny Grames) unknowingly release an alien invasion in their small town and learn to work together in order to save each other, their town, and evidently, the entire galaxy. Throw in close friends and family and a good alien named Ben (Charan Prabhakar) to help, and you have a movie filled with thrills and plenty of laughs. 

If you're already a fan of Grames and McConnaughey, you know this project has been in the works for quite a while. The pair have a history on YouTube creating short films and finally decided to go for the feature-length, which they also documented behind the scenes in YouTube shorts. The final result is a lighthearted sci-fi comedy with some life situations without getting too heavy. Even the more serious subjects within the story never got too sappy, like Everly attempting to run away by hitchhiking, and clueless boyfriend Jimmy simply pokes fun at her as opposed to having any concern that his girlfriend wants to leave.

The creatures themselves are seen in various forms, which effects coordinator Logan Long and his team bring to life solidly. The design of the alien is impressive, but CGI-heavy, and would have been more fun in practical effects. The gore is kept to a minimum, and victims are conveniently dragged off-screen before getting slaughtered, but the threat is still prominent, even through the hilarious scenes in the attempt to stop them. What makes them interesting is the set of rules to kill them, as simply shooting them will cause more harm than good, with spores spraying out from their bodies and making the others even stronger.

Alien Country is a fun, lighthearted action comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously, making it a decent option for a laid-back movie experience. While some of the effects are a bit cartoonish, it still keeps the overall vibe a playful tone. The real charm is the cast, whose chemistry and likability keep the story engaging even when the plot takes a random turn involving certain characters, like Jimmy’s dad who disappeared, and other forms of aliens that appear more human. Besides Jimmy and Everly, some fan favorites may be the gun-toting Granny or the young daughter who is addicted to gambling and doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything, including an alien invasion.

The CGI itself may not be groundbreaking, but it fits the film’s comedic style, especially during the fight scene in the country derby ring, which looked like a blast to shoot. Drive around a dirt ring in beat-up cars and shoot at aliens? Where does someone sign up for that adventure?!

Not everything here lands, but the heart behind bringing this story to life is worth something, as it has an American aura of “Shaun Of The Dead” mixed with “Paul” vibes. The journey and determination to make this film is beyond admirable, and the final results are a fun ride McConnaughey and Grames should be proud of. By no means a groundbreaking film, but it delivers enough laughs and action to make for an enjoyable experience. Need a family night in? Gather those blankets and get that popcorn ready, as this is the perfect film everyone can enjoy, especially for the spooky season. 

Directed by: Boston McConnaughey

Written by: Boston McConnaughey, Renny Grames

Starring: K. C. Clyde, Renny Grames, Rachele Brooke Smith, Austin Archer, Charan Prabhakar, Dalton Baker, Corbin Alred, Payton Myler, Jason Wade, Charla Bocchichio, Trey Warner, Sila Agavale, Joseph Reidhead, Barta Heiner, Dominique Noelle

Watch Now On Amazon Prime!!

Stay up to date with “The Dark Side Of Pop Culture” by following Macabre Daily on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.