Review: Extraterrestrial

If you're in a summer movie frame of mind and looking for an FX-laden sci-fi adventure, a title like Extraterrestrial (Extraterrestre), opening Friday for a week-long run in Austin, might seem like an obvious choice.

But it isn't. Despite the movie's title and summer release date, the extraterrestrial elements in this Spanish import from Fantastic Fest regular Nacho Vigalondo serve only as a backdrop for an intriguing, witty and rather minimalist comedy about the relationships between four characters. There is little action and barely a hint of digital effects; although Extraterrestrial is set during an alien invasion, it focuses on a far more interesting story about human nature.

The film opens as a young Spaniard, Julio (Julián Villagrán), awakens after a very successful night of drinking and womanizing. He finds himself in the apartment of Julia (Michelle Jenner), a woman no one would mind picking up in a bar. The two had overindulged to the extent that amid the headachy haze of their hangovers, they can't even remember each other's name -- much less the details of what exactly transpired the night before.

As if their morning-after amnesia isn't awkward enough, Julio and Julia soon realize they've slept through an alien invasion. Their town of Cantabria has been evacuated; only a few stubborn and brave (or perhaps stubborn and crazy) souls remain, including Julia's oddball neighbor, Ángel (Carlos Areces). Ángel is strangely nonchalant about the whole alien invasion thing; he seems more concerned that a stranger spent the night in Julia's apartment, and his unrequited crush on her is painfully obvious.

Julio is understandably unhappy when Julia's boyfriend, Carlos (Raúl Cimas), shows up to check on her. (With all the excitement of a random sexual encounter and creatures from a distant planet landing in the neighborhood, Julia forgot to mention being in a relationship.) Julio would like nothing more than to make a hasty exit, but the oblivious Carlos insists that he stay; after all, the city has become a lonely and dangerous place.

Such is the setup for the darkly comic and sometimes bitterly cynical Extraterrestrial, a tale in which four people should focus on survival but instead let their fears, lust, petty jealousies and human failings drive them to absurd lengths of bad behavior. There are clandestine trysts, genuine expressions of love and paranoid accusations of being one of them -- an alien who has inhabited a human body. Never mind the giant spaceship parked in the distance and the prospect of annihilation; Julio, Julia, Ángel and Carlos spend most of the film consumed by a struggle for affection and power, forming and destroying alliances and never quite trusting each other.

And what an entertaining struggle it is, set against the eerie canvas of Cantabria's deserted streets. There are occasional signs of other human life -- central to the story is a makeshift TV broadcast by a desperate soul somewhere in the city's bowels -- but Extraterrestrial is mostly a four-character film, one that has much to say about the strengths and fragility of human relationships. Survival is a central theme, but like the distant spaceship, it also becomes a backdrop to the interplay between the characters. With its intimate human focus, Extraterrestrial is reminiscent of two of my favorite survival-themed films, 28 Days Later and the inimitable Monsters.

Extraterrestrial is clever in its subtlety, slowly building tension by only hinting at the possible dangers that lurk beyond Julia's apartment building. In Jaws-like fashion, what we don't see is far scarier than what we do. What we fear most is the unknown -- and the characters' hilariously unwise behaviors remind us that what we should fear most is our own nature. Writer/director Nacho Vigalondo's film also is clever in how it transitions between comic and dramatic moments, effortlessly morphing between story elements like a shape-changing alien. Extraterrestrial ultimately is a love story, but not in the fuzzy, syrupy vein of most rom-coms; there are plenty of more serious themes -- and a generous helping of snark -- to satisfy filmgoers like me who generally abhor love stories.

The four principals in Extraterrestrial give equally strong performances, with help from a polished script that fleshes out their characters. I particularly liked Areces as Ángel; he takes what could have been a clichéd kooky neighbor in hilariously sinister directions. His doughy, nondescript face and seemingly harmless lack of social skills mask an ever-simmering rage, and his inept fawning over Julia makes him painfully sympathetic. Jenner also makes the most of the film's only female character, turning Julia into far more than an ornamental object of the men's affections.

Again, Extraterrestrial will disappoint the summer movie hordes seeking a loud and frenetic digital spectacle. But for fans of quirky indie fare, this appealing comedy with dark undertones will be a pleasant surprise.