johannes-16

It was a good surprise when I once watched this short story on TV a few years ago. It's not very often you see Germans produce sci-fi films. And this "Ausgestorben" is an excellent lo-budget sci-fi movie. You can watch it over and over, and each time you see more and more how the screenplay, filming and editing is close to perfection. Michael Pohl has written a perfect screenplay. In less than 15 minutes he tells us a very complex and intelligent story. Actors are all professionals and they give this credibility you mostly don't have in student flicks. The use of natural sets is excellent. I can't wait to see Michael Pohl's first feature film.

I am a car racing fan, and also a movie fan, and on both points of view this movie is crap. There are very few good movies about car racing. If you want to see an acceptable one see Grand Prix (1966). This is not a good movie but the races are almost realistic and well filmed.

Why "almost" ? Because the first shot of the movie, showing a spaceship approaching planet Earth should be removed. It gives a key to the audience that spoils half of the suspense. I am not a war movie and a Schwarzie fan. I first watched this on TV, and I fortunately missed the 5 first minutes. I was sitting in front of my TV set watching what I supposed to be a Schwartzie war movie, saying to myself "hey man ! you are going to watch this flick until the end". But after ten minutes I was glued ! This is amazing how the movie turns slowly from stupid action to fantastic. You NEED to know more about this creature ... The suspense and action grows crescendo until the awaited duel. Excellent job. Very unexpected mood when you only refer to the title, the cast and the poster ... I only discovered the first shot when I rented the VHS tape ...

I gave 8/10