Horror-101

‘BLAIR WITCH’ creator comes back ‘ALTERED’

directed by Eduardo Sanchez
written by Jamie Nash

DVD Released: December 19th, 2006

A well-acted, intimate tale of backwoods revenge puts a smart twist on the alien abduction genre.

We’re all very familiar with alien abduction movies. In films like FIRE IN THE SKY (1993), some poor sod is abducted in the middle of the boonies, treated like a lab rat, probed, and then–maybe–he’s discovered, naked, on a field somewhere, speding the rest of his life trying to live the whole humilliating experience down (let alone trying to be believed). Now, what if you were to turn the tables? What if you were to abduct the alien? Perhaps he’s caught by a trio of determined, slightly crazed, vengeful rednecks? What if they were to give a man-snatching grey a taste of its own medicine? The new film ALTERED poses this twisty scenario. Eduardo Sanchez, one of he co-creators of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999), returns to form with a new effort, and the result is a quite pleasing, intimate horror film.

Wyatt (Adam Kauffman) wakes up again in the middle of the night, suspecting someone or something is outside his Florida backwoods home, stalking him. His girfriend, Hope (Catherine Mangan) tells him to go back to bed. But, there’s no use–Wyatt knows something’s out there. He can ’sense’ it. He’s came across it many years ago, and even has the scar to prove it. This night in particular, ‘it’ has come back, indirectly, for him, as three of his friends show up at his front door–Duke, Cody, and Otis (Brad William Henke, Paul Mcarthy-Boyington, and Michael C Williams, respectively), come on right in with a wrapped, beaten, chained, and even harpooned, alien lifeform they’ve trapped in the woods. Their motives are far from scientific, as they mean to exact bloody revenge on the creature for the death of Cody’s brother, Timmy, many years ago. But this alien still has a lot of kick left in it after all. Horror ensues.

ALTERED is the long overdue follow-up film from Eduardo Sanchez, half of the duo responsible for the sensational BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, the most succesful indie film of all time. Also, it was scripted by Jamie Nash, whom we recently reported about as the writer/director of the Christmas-themed horror-comedy, TWO FRONT TEETH. Both filmmakers reside in the Maryland area, though the film was shot in Florida, where Sanchez went to film school. Although made for a rather substantial budget, the film has been given a direct-to-DVD release. But I’m glad to report that this is one of the few straight-to-DVD releases which is very much worth picking up, and most definetely worth the rental, as it’s smartly conceived and well-made.

What sets this effort apart from so many limp alien-horror films is it’s turn-the-tables scenario of having the alien being kidnapped by humans. Also, without utilizing flashbacks (very smart), the story unravels a tale of bitter revenge of four friends still haunted by the death of a fifth at the hands of the alien now captured. Treated incredously, and ostracized, by their community, three of these friends take matters on their own hands. Lastly, the film does away with all the usual degrees of separation between what’s human and what’s alien by treating the whole affair as a straightforward scenario of revenge; the alien here is not neccesarily feared, but treated as a criminal about to be lynched.

But Wyatt (Kauffman) just can’t let simple alien murder come to pass. He knows there’s far too much at stake. If they kill the alien, he fears that not only he and his friends will be retailated against; he fears that the whole human race is at stake if they simply kill this alien creepo. Complicating matters more is Wyatt’s girlfriend, Hope, who is having none of this alien nonsense.

The whole film has an intimate, dramatic approach to this entire dilemma. This proves refreshing, as any other film would have simply gone the big, loud, action-packed route in dealing with the situation. Nash’s script smartly posits the terrible alien creature in the middle of a group of friends whose relationships are strained, and about to snap. Cody can’t forgive Wyatt for the death of his brother. Duke has lost his wife and son over this whole ordeal. Otis has unwisely chosen to come along this poorly planned excurtion. And Wyatt is simply trying to be get some sleep and keeping his relationship with Hope. The performances by all the actors in the piece are strong. Good casting all around.

Unfortunately, ALTERED wasn’t given a theatrical release by Universal Pictures. This is largely due to the nature of the story and the cast: Though well-cast and strong, there’s not a recognizable name in the group. No stars in a horror film of a more toned-down, intimate nature (set in a rural, ‘redneck’ atmosphere) didn’t seem like a good theatrical gamble for the studio. Hopefully, the film will receive a good berth on DVD.

It’s good to see Eduardo Sanchez back in the saddle now going on 7 years since the release of BLAIR WITCH. There has been much speculation about his fate as well as that of co-director Daniel Myrick (last seen directing a web drama series). ALTERED proves that at least Sanchez is capable of more after the phenom of BLAIR WITCH, and he should be able to tell more horror tales in the future. Let me leave you with two parting shots, which will hopefully make you go out and give ALTERED a well-deserved DVD pickup: This film gladly knows how long it should be, clocking at an efficient 1 hour and 21 minutes. It also tugs at your guts. And I do mean that–it really, really pulls at your guts. Just go and see for yourself.

Horror-101 gives ALTERED 4 nasties out of 5.

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