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| Scene from Attack the Block |
Welcome to Alternative to What: a weekly column that tries to find a great alternative to driving to the multiplexes. Based on releases of that week, the selections will either be thematically related or feature recurring cast and crew. The goal is to help you better understand the diversity of cinema and hopefully find you some favorites while saving a few bucks. At worse, this column will save you money. Expect each installment to come out on Fridays, unless specified.
THIS WEEK:
Attack the Block (2011)
- Alternative To -
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015)
It would seem like a cheat if I chose anything for this week's Alternative to What that wasn't horror. Even if this week's options are very dismal, there's still a lot of need for recommendations that want to get scared at home. There's a handful of classics that you'll likely go for, and I cannot fault you. It's an amazingly strong genre of movies to choose from. If you're looking for something more youthful and supernatural, I think I have found a great alternative to the new zombie comedy Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. It's a realtively obscure film from 2011 that has sadly not garnered as big of a reputation as it should, nor has the director actually taken off in any significant way.
I'm talking about director Joe Cornish's sole film Attack the Block, which was a British film that was so authentic that many websites ran additional guides to the characters' lingo. Pound for pound, there's not too many great alien invasion movies of the past few years that compare in sheer creativity and entertainment. Based on Cornish's experiences of once being mugged, the film follows a gang of inner-city youths as they discover that aliens are on the verge of destroying their territory. As a result, they go after them on a wildly creative and enjoyable film that plays like Aliens if it was about children fighting drug dealers and misunderstood neighbors.
Audiences will likely recognize at least one actor in John Boyega, who is scheduled to be in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. His role as a black guy in space has offended purists of the franchise. However, he plays the leader Moses in this film, and gives such a compelling and breakthrough performance among the many noteworthy roles. He is tough and sacrificial in ways that make for a good leader. However, it's the third act when he's required to do something daring that he goes from just a great character to proof that he was an actor that should have a lengthy career.
If there's one disappointment, it's that in the four years since this film, none of the unknown actors have really had much of a career. While it is true that Attack the Block didn't do well stateside, it did receive a strong word of mouth from horror fans. Beyond Boyega, the performances transcend the repulsive gangster stereotypes and become something far richer and complex. Even if it works best as pure entertainment, it's also a vague commentary on the social structures of England during this time. It's about thinking twice about people who look nasty and maybe understanding where they came from.
While I doubt that this will be the only major recommendation for Halloween week that you're likely to read, this is my reminder of how great Attack the Block is. It's not only scary, but it's funny and stylish in all of the ways that Cornish's friend Edgar Wright has become more acclaimed for. I personally am excited to see whatever Cornish does next, as he came confidently into the film world and has only left anticipations as high as ever. I hope that as time goes on, it becomes the more noteworthy cult film that I want it to be. For now, I think it's just a good time for those wanting some laughs with their scares.
I'm talking about director Joe Cornish's sole film Attack the Block, which was a British film that was so authentic that many websites ran additional guides to the characters' lingo. Pound for pound, there's not too many great alien invasion movies of the past few years that compare in sheer creativity and entertainment. Based on Cornish's experiences of once being mugged, the film follows a gang of inner-city youths as they discover that aliens are on the verge of destroying their territory. As a result, they go after them on a wildly creative and enjoyable film that plays like Aliens if it was about children fighting drug dealers and misunderstood neighbors.
Audiences will likely recognize at least one actor in John Boyega, who is scheduled to be in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. His role as a black guy in space has offended purists of the franchise. However, he plays the leader Moses in this film, and gives such a compelling and breakthrough performance among the many noteworthy roles. He is tough and sacrificial in ways that make for a good leader. However, it's the third act when he's required to do something daring that he goes from just a great character to proof that he was an actor that should have a lengthy career.
If there's one disappointment, it's that in the four years since this film, none of the unknown actors have really had much of a career. While it is true that Attack the Block didn't do well stateside, it did receive a strong word of mouth from horror fans. Beyond Boyega, the performances transcend the repulsive gangster stereotypes and become something far richer and complex. Even if it works best as pure entertainment, it's also a vague commentary on the social structures of England during this time. It's about thinking twice about people who look nasty and maybe understanding where they came from.
While I doubt that this will be the only major recommendation for Halloween week that you're likely to read, this is my reminder of how great Attack the Block is. It's not only scary, but it's funny and stylish in all of the ways that Cornish's friend Edgar Wright has become more acclaimed for. I personally am excited to see whatever Cornish does next, as he came confidently into the film world and has only left anticipations as high as ever. I hope that as time goes on, it becomes the more noteworthy cult film that I want it to be. For now, I think it's just a good time for those wanting some laughs with their scares.
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