Screamers (1996)

Peace-seeking soldiers must cross a deadly wasteland inhabited by a blade-wielding race of killing machines. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/28/2005 Starring: Peter Weller Run time: 108 minutes Rating: R Product Description

Good Movie; Bad Aspect Ratio

I really enjoyed this movie. It's not an epic, as it states on the cover, but it's entertaining, and at times genuinely suspensful. I felt like they made something pretty good with a low budget. Special effects were well done. The creature effects were pretty decent. And I'm still a fan of Weller. It's also nice to see Dan Obannon's name on a screenplay again.

I'm only disappointed I didn't notice the DVD was a 4x3 aspect ratio before I bought it. So I guess down the road I'll end up buying it a second time in widescreen.
September 20, 2008

Boy, what a stupid movie. Bottom of the barrel.

After watching Peter Weller [act] in this movie, I can only imagine him mopping filthy johns at a two-bit diner now. Because I sure as heck would never give him a starring role in a movie again. After seeing this turkey roast after the first 15 minutes. Peter Weller sucked rotten eggs.

The only reason(s) you'd watch this movie are: 1) Your Internet connection is down, 2) Your cable or satellite is out, 3) You don't have a date, 4) You've read all the best-sellers, 5) You're sick in bed, 6) You have bad taste in movies. or, 7) You were caught unawares that this flick has to be voted in the top 100 Worst Movies Ever.

I couldn't believe the "romantic" interaction between Weller and that "Screamer" chick. You knew the film was already taking a dive when he saw the woman topless, bathing herself and he exclaims "God, you're beautiful." And when he kisses "it" after it saved his life, because "it" learned to LOVE, will make you laugh until you cry. Or split a gut.

The freaking little nerd nubie soldier that tagged along with him was also a joke. And the resulting clash of the two "enemy" soldiers between themselves was predictable (One kills the other. Suspecting that he's a Screamer - he wasn't). As was the revealing truth of the remaining "enemy soldier" - he was a screamer. Wow, I'd have never guessed that in a million years.

Most of the conversations between the "good guys" at the base were laughable. The director or the writer may have seen too many Star Wars movies. The Ewoks in the Star Wars movies acted better than anyone in this flop. The battle with the "Screamer Kids", who eventually get nuked; was hilarious.

I think most of the people in the movie theaters who watched this, were the true "Screamers." Not in horror, but in anger. As in screaming "I Want My Money Back!" August 31, 2008

Great adaptation

I have discovered Phillip K. Dick a few years ago and since then I have read and watched everything I can that has been written or inspired by him. This specific movie was shown on TV and was not launched on DVD in Brazil and I was very happy when I found it for sale here at Amazon. I did not grant 5 stars because the special effects have some defects, nothing to be desperate about but reduces the impact of the plot. Regardless that, the story is very good, having a nice and logic evolution, different from Next, for example, where the story was little bit "ran over" to try to justify the pursuit of the main character. August 4, 2008

A really poor sci-fi shaggy dog story

I really like Peter Weller, but this thing is a turkey. Well, not really a turkey, but a shaggy dog story. Part "Alien", part "Terminator", and part "Tremors", the film just plods along. Just as you can see the shaggy dog punch line far in advance of it at long last being said, we know things about these characters that are meant to be surprising and shocking, but never are.

The film is set on another planet that was a promising mining outpost. I never quite get the mining thing in space travel. Given its cost and difficulty, why do you want to transport heavy raw ore by rockets? Space travel must become easier and less expensive than big rig trucking in the future! Anyway, something about the substance they mine has the drawback of killing the miners. The political situation on Earth contributes to the heated situation on this outpost. One side, Weller's side, has put little robot weapons on the planet to fight the rebels, but the robots end up having other plans. Oops.

Enjoy this if you can. Peter Weller is the only thing in it, but even so it is a turkey. This was based on a Philip K. Dick story, and so that should give it some status, but for me it was just too obvious and each new "shocking revelation" made it more tiresome.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
May 26, 2008

Escape From The Planet of the Screamers

Not since "Planet of the Apes" have I seen a man so desperate to escape from a planet. "Screamers" is a futuristic film of science fiction horror starring Peter Weller; he has acted in a host of science fiction films such as "Robocop" and "Leviathan." In "Screamers," Peter Weller is Colonel Hendricksen who lives on a remote mining planet, Sirius 6B. He has learned that the tiny, multi-bladed robots (similar to the silver balls in "Phantasm"), living underground have begun replicating themselves and evolving to the point that they are indistinguishable from humans. Reminiscent of John Carpenter`s "The Thing," no one knows who is the human and who is the imitation. The screamers need human body parts to create more screamers.

Hendricksen attempts to lead a small band of survivors through bomb-riddled wasteland towards safety. Along the way, they encounter numerous obstacles from the screamers. One of the survivors, and Hendricksen's love interest, is Jessica Hansen (Jennifer Rubin of "Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors"). She is a tough as nails, freelance mercenary.

"Screamers" is a beautifully filmed blend of science fiction, horror, and romance. The acting is good and the special effects are excellent. The creatures appear real rather than cartoon-like. There is gore but not too much.

Suspenseful and action packed, "Screamers" has numerous plot twists that will shock you, especially the one that comes at the end. Just when you think that Hendricksen's situation couldn't get any worse, it does.

"Screamers" is a must see for fans of science fiction horror. I would've given it five stars but the DVD presentation is in full screen rather than the widescreen that is so deserves. I wish Sony Pictures had given both versions on the same disc.
April 24, 2008

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