Every now and then a movie just catches you by surprise. You sit
down to watch a film, thinking it's some B-rated piece of tripe that will be
enjoyable in an "it's so bad it's good" type of way--but instead of getting a
cheap laugh, it flattens you with its story-telling smartness, and as you're
caught up in the grip of the film's riveting narrative, you can't help but
wonder how such a marvelous movie like this has managed to slide under the radar.
That was what happened to me when I watched Outlander. I knew of the basic
premise, which was "Vikings Meet Predator," and initially figured it was another
low-budget wonder with cheesy effects that was making its customary debut on
home video before it wound up on "The Most Dangerous Night Of Television!" on the
Sy-Fy Channel.
And, boy was I ever wrong. Jim Caviezel, who's best known as
Jesus from Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ, stars here as Kainan, a
warrior for an intergalactic empire who crash lands on a little backwater planet
known as Earth. A Moorwen, deadly creature from an alien planet that his empire
had taken over, was responsible for killing
the crew of his spaceship--as well as his wife and son--and once the vessel
crashes on Earth, this beastie roams free, feasting on the first village it
comes across. Kainan has landed in Norway in the year 709, and a galactic
encyclopedia salvaged from his ship informs him that this planet was an
abandoned seed colony, which explains why Kainan's people are just as human as
the locals.
After getting an instant language lesson in Norse (all the
characters in the film still speak English), Kanian sets out to hunt down the
Moorwen--only to run into something just as fearsome: the Vikings. John Hurt
stars as the firm but wise Viking leader Rothgar, who soon heeds Kainan's advice
in dealing with the Moorwen--which is an innovative creature design that looks
like the dragon of myth, but with some nice science fiction twists, such as the fact
that it uses naturally created lights to draw in its prey. The superb cast is
rounded out by the very good Sophia Myles as Rothgar's strong-headed daughter,
and the always-great Ron Perlman, who makes the most of his limited screen time
in the part of Gunnar, the blood-thristy leader of a rival Viking tribe.
Visually
stunning, Outlander is directed with a sure hand by Howard McCain, who also
co-wrote the script. McCain and company give the same lavish attention on
aspects of life in the Iron Age as they do with Kanian's futuristic civilization,
and Viking life is in this film is treated with a sweeping, romantic view. The
Moorwen may be a terrifying creature from beyond the stars, but these warriors
will not back down from its threat. The DVD comes with a commentary, plus some
documentaries. But it's the film that's really the main draw here, an
enthralling adventure fantasy that offers a sly origin of the legendary Beowulf story
within its imaginative science fiction trappings.
--SF
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