Directed by:
Christian DuguayCinematography:
Rodney GibbonsComposer:
Normand CorbeilCast:
Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis, Jennifer Rubin, Andrew Lauer, Charles Edwin Powell, Michael Caloz, Liliana Głąbczyńska, Tom Berry, Ron White, Jason Cavalier (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
The year is 2078, and on the planet Sirius 6B, a long, harsh, hate-filled war is being waged between the Alliance and the NEB's. However the NEB's are willing to begin peace talks, so Alliance leader Col. Joseph Hendricksson, accompanied by a man named Ace, and later a young boy, journey across the nuclear war-ravaged plains to meet with their foes. Upon their arrival, however, they discover that most of the NEB's have been annihilated by the "screamers," knife-brandishing robots that slice and slash humans simply for fun. Hendrickson and Ace soon realize that their lives are in grave danger, for it's impossible to know who to trust... for the blood-seeking screamers can take on any form, from an inanimate object -- to a young boy. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (4)
A more than decent B-movie based on a lesser-known short story by Dick. It has a better ending and takes place on Earth, by the way. The planet looks really disheveled, snow in the desert is a great idea, the same as the two moons... World class almost for free. :D Peter Weller is a tough nice guy from the old school, the rest of the cast does not excel in any way. The main thing is the atmosphere. I’ll give it an extra star for effort. It left me with the same feeling I had after watching Pitch Black. - There’s a lot you can do. - Sure, pay taxes.
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Screamers can be used as a typical example of a B-movie. The film has all the basic characteristics, i.e., low budget, a simple screenplay that doesn't count on a demanding viewer and that has to do everything to fit within the mentioned limited budget, as well as mostly unknown average actors. On the other hand, with its straightforwardness and energy, it can appeal to a genre fan and doesn't pretend to be anything else. Although the sets are simple and there are minimal effects, the director managed to create a decent atmosphere. However, during the film, I was bothered by how superficially the literary source material was treated. Philip K. Dick usually creates a multilayered story, where the protagonist is a victim of both his own paranoia and a real conspiracy of his surroundings. The screenwriter couldn't transfer this multilayeredness to the screen, so the viewer is confronted with a series of twists, which can be predicted soon enough and the film doesn't surprise. Adapting Philip K. Dick means dedicating an exceptionally large amount of work to the screenplay and the selection of actors who can sell his sophisticated game to the audience. Meanwhile, the story of a soldier who gradually realizes that he fought a completely useless war and became a victim of a complex game contains traces of a Shakespearean drama. Readers familiar with Philip K. Dick's work can clearly recognize who is behind the film's source material. All the ingredients typical for Dick's work are present. Nobody knows who is who and what game they are actually playing. It's a shame about the inconsistencies that diminish the final impression of the film. Overall impression: 45%.
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After Total Recall, screenwriter Dan O’Bannon comes back with another sci-fi inspired by Philip K. Dick. It’s more of a B flick this time, which is not a bad thing. Peter Weller fits in wonderfully and the atmosphere in Screamers is just so great! Slightly undervalued inconspicuous gem.
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The movie Screamers isn't a great adaptation, but it's a pretty good film. Don't expect too many action scenes, and if there are any, they're not particularly great. However, expect some sci-fi with a thought-provoking idea it aims to present. It's not a groundbreaking idea, and it's not presented in a completely original way, but thanks to it, this sci-fi doesn't come off as stupid. And you will find some horror moments here, too.
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