Canaries | Film review - Offbeat alien invasion horror flick

Canaries Peter Stray poster — (Image credit: Devilworks)

Offbeat alien invasion horror.

Small-town Wales is probably the last spot you would pick for an alien invasion. Which in itself gives a nice comic edge to writer-director Peter Stray’s low-budget horror comedy Canaries. It’s no joke, however, for the hapless friends gathered for a local New Year’s Eve party when a bunch of zombie-like fishermen in canary-yellow oilskins turn up and start slaying people.

Belying his miniscule budget, Stray mixes laughs and scares to good effect. And he gives his film an international dimension with brief scenes set in Vietnam, Martha’s Vineyard and Washington DC, where Men in Black types are keeping tabs on the alien invasion – and giving a new perspective on the much vaunted ‘special relationship’. Which is little comfort for the dwindling survivors – including Craig Russell’s cocky expat DJ – duking it out with the aliens back in Lower Cwmtwrch, Wales.

Certificate 15. Runtime 84 mins. Director Peter Stray

Canaries is currently playing on Sky Cinema Premiere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdIAA7kv9QY

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A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.