It’s been a while since I watched a “Mockbuster” from The Asylum. Naturally, Planet Dune is The Asylum’s version of Dune, but done on a budget that wouldn’t even cover the catering cost for that movie. It’s rare when they can get an actor to star in one of these things that’s tangibly related to the blockbuster they are mocking. It’s kind of funny/sad that Sean Young, who starred in the 1984 original, agreed to appear in this. In every scene, she has a look about her that says, “So… it’s come to this, huh?” She gets through her dialogue scenes with all the energy of an actor who is getting paid just enough to leave their trailer. You almost get the sense she gave the directors one take and one take only. It’s enough to make her performance in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective look dignified and thoughtful by comparison.
A hot shot space pilot (Emily Killian) disobeys orders and is sent to prison. There, she must fly freighters at the ass end of the galaxy on a desert planet. When her mission goes sour, she and her crew are left stranded on the planet where they must contend with giant sandworms. With no hope for a rescue, the crew tries to work together to survive.
This is less a riff on Dune and more like a space version of Tremors. That said, there is a scene where some characters ride on the back of a worm, so maybe this was one of those cases where The Asylum tried to get as close as they could to their inspiration without being sued. The CGI sandworms themselves are pretty shoddy. They look like The Langoliers with giant tails. The spaceship effects are much better though, and while they aren’t exactly Industrial Light and Magic, they look more sophisticated than your typical Asylum joint.
Too bad the movie itself just kind of sits there. It would be one thing if it moved at a decent pace or had a sense of humor, but unfortunately that’s not the case. Overall, it’s mostly forgettable and lame.
Co-director Glenn Campbell also helmed the amusing Shark Side of the Moon.
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