Foes

The long-lost low-budget sci-fi film Foes is not only a fine example of visual-effect creativity for a few bob (such as the cult-classic Equinox), but also a very unconventional, surreal horror film about an alien invasion with very strange effects. Essentially an amateur film with no professional actors and no traditional story arc, it's more of a trippy spectacle. Foes is one of the purest space horror films I've seen. You probably haven't seen aliens like the ones here. Their abstract form makes them chillingly elusive creatures beyond human comprehension. The characters don't know the purpose of their visit and have no idea how to interact with them, let alone fight them. The sense of helplessness and hopelessness is then compounded by the minimalist setting – a remote island with a lighthouse, cut off from ambient light by an alien magnetic field. I recommend the shorter, director's cut version, which is a bit darker and tighter than the theatrical release with unnecessary scenes with the army (reshot at the distributor's request), which only break the oppressive atmosphere. (06/11/2019)