Tuesday, November 6, 2018

HALLOWEEN HANGOVER: ASTRO-ZOMBIES: M4: INVADERS FROM CYBERSPACE (2012) ** ½


I enjoyed Ted V. Mikels’ third Astro-Zombies opus, M3:  Cloned for the most part.  Because of that, I figured I’d close out the series with this final installment in the franchise.  This time, the Astro-Zombies pop out of laptops across the globe and wreak havoc on unsuspecting citizens around the world… and… well… that’s about it as far as the “plot” goes.    

The cut-rate CGI effects include disintegrations, shotgun blasts, and exploding bodies.  The greenscreen effects may be a tad chintzy, but Mikels, unlike most of today’s shot-on-video directors, imbues his films with an endearing charm.  To his credit, Mikels is able to make a no-budget movie with crazy globe-hopping action set pieces.  The Astro-Zombies lay waste to Berlin, Sydney, Tokyo and countless other international cities with their deadly eyeball laser blasts.  You won’t see this kind of carnage in your typical Troma flick, that’s for sure.

M4:  Invaders from Cyberspace lacks the kitchen sink approach of Part 3.  I also missed the little callbacks to Mikels’ previous films.  On the other hand, Invaders from Cyberspace is shorter and faster paced, which is much appreciated.  I will say that some of the attack sequences get repetitive, but there are enough cool moments here for me to give it a halfhearted recommendation.  (The amusement park massacre is particularly well done.) 

In the end, humans learn mirrors are the only thing that can deflect the laser eye beams and kill the Astro-Zombies.  Which begs the question:  Why couldn’t the Astro-Zombies just grab machetes and kill people like they did in the last movie once they realize their eye beams are useless?  One thing I have learned in all my years watching Ted V. Mikels movies is that you can’t ask questions during Ted V. Mikels movies.

One thing you can expect in a Ted V. Mikels movie is lots of padding and a shit ton of useless supporting characters.  Seriously, did we really need to see the old guy put on his scuba gear in real time?  Oops.  There I go asking questions again.

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