Review of 'Beyond Skyline'

So, I really did not like the original “Skyline” film (see here for my review, if you dare) so I did not go into this semi-sequel, semi-retelling of the original film with a great deal of hope. I was pleasantly surprised.

Taking place at the same time as the events in “Skyline”, we instead follow detective Mark Corley (Frank Grillo) as he bails his son Trent (Jonny Weston) out from jail just as the alien invasion begins. While returning home on a subway train, the tunnel collapses and Mark leads the survivors to safety including transit operator Audrey (Bojana Novakovic), and “Sarge” (Antonio Fargas) a blind homeless man. Escaping to the marina they quickly see the devastation the invasion has caused and they are all captured by the aliens. On board the spacecraft they meet heavily pregnant Elaine (Samantha Jean) and her boyfriend Jarrod (both from the first film) whose brain has been transferred into an alien body but who still sides with the humans. Though the odds are against them, they are going to certainly give the aliens something to think about as they set their sights on the alien leader…

This is a much better film than the first, with a clear, coherent plot, and characters that we actually care for but at the same time with special effects that are just as good. The true horror that awaits the human race is much easier to see here with the action extending beyond the LA of the first film. Sure, there are still quite a bit of far-fetched coincidences but it is a lot more believable.

Frank Grillo portrays our flawed hero with great nuance and sensitivity but at the same time getting stuck into some serious action. As Trent, Mark's son, Jonny Weston is much shallower performance but Bojana Novakovic as Audrey convincingly reflects how a LA subway operator may respond with these bizarre events.

“Beyond Skyline” isn't Lawrence of Arabia, by any means, but it is a lot more fun than it's predecessor. At least it has people we care about!

Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2021-04-02

Directed by: Liam O'Donnell

Studio: Beyond The Mothership

Year: 2017

Length: 106 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1724970/

• Skylines (2020)