DVD Invasion of the Reptoids

An alien invader crash lands his spaceship in a small rural town and terrorizes the countryside. Although said alien kills a teenager, his girlfriend Rose (pretty Leeann Fassbender) still can't convince the skeptical sheriff (ever-reliable B-movie staple George Stover in solid form) that something is amiss. Writer/director Ted Moehring relates the entertaining story at a snappy pace, maintains an engaging tongue-in-cheek tone throughout, presents an amusing array of delightfully quirky characters, and even delivers a sincere cornball message about the need for tolerance and understanding. The cast of familiar indie feature faces helps a whole lot: John Link easily steals the show with his deliciously over-the-top portrayal of irascible wacko Bob Wilson, Conrad Brooks has a neat bit as a crusty hunter, and Edward X. Young has a funny cameo as an ill-fated drunken bum. The basic alien make-up and nifty lo-fi special effects possess a certain endearing no-frills charm. Moehring's crisp black and white cinematography gives the picture a pleasing stark look. Credric Crouch's spacey droning synthesizer score does the funky moody trick. A really fun flick.