BEYOND (2014)

Directed by Joseph Baker and Tom Large, Starring: Richard J. Danum, Gillian MacGregor. Drama / Science Fiction, UK, 2014, 89mins, Cert 15.

Having survived an armed robbery in a mini-supermarket, Cole (Richard J. Danum) then ends up at a house party where his evening take a decided turn for the better when he gets talking to Maya (Gillian MacGregor). Now if only that giant asteroid possibly heading for a cataclysmic impact with earth could be diverted by US warheads then life would be tickety-boo. Actually, there is another possible scenario, that asteroid could instead turn out to be an alien armada heading to destroy humanity or enslave them or something suitably unsporting like that...

The trailer for BEYOND has (to date) been viewed over 2 million times on YouTube. Assuming nobody has watched it more than once, that’s over 2 million YouTubers who've (unknowingly) seen a complete misrepresentation of this low-budget, (very) low sci-fi, character-driven two-hander.

The cutting between pre and post-invasion scenes is initially jarringly effective, and the sparing glimpses of the (presumably) alien mothership are by in large passable given the budgetary constraints. But the emphasis is very much on the emotional strains placed on our lead couple by the uninvited extra-terrestrial harvestings and the internal struggles they are forced to come to terms with as a result of a moral dilemma.

In this, the performances of the two leads carry the film for far longer than it deserves, that is until the groan-inducing cliché twist ending which, given the way the film is being promoted, must surely constitute a breach of the Trade Descriptions Act.

Apparently world-premiered at the SciFi London Festival this year, its inclusion must surely have represented some kind of limbo-dance under the entry bar.

Then again, quite how this character drama masquerading as an alien invasion sci-fi thriller got the green light in the first place is frankly beyond me (pun intended).

**(out of 5*) 

Paul Worts