A Hilariously Bad Alien Invasion You Won’t Believe
Hollywood has a long history of producing cinematic stinkers, but War of the Worlds (2023), now streaming on Amazon Prime, might just take the cake. This isn’t your grandfather’s H.G. Wells adaptation; this is something…else. Prepare yourself for a truly unique and unbelievably bad alien invasion movie experience.
A Lockdown Low-Budget Nightmare:
The film’s official marketing readily admits it’s “terrible,” and they’re not wrong. Shot during a COVID-19 lockdown, the production feels like a claustrophobic Zoom call stretched into feature-length. The entire alien invasion unfolds within the confines of a single cubicle, a testament to the limitations (and perhaps the unintentional brilliance) of budget restrictions. This isn’t a vast, epic battle for humanity; it’s a struggle against boredom and questionable filmmaking choices.
Meet Will Radford: The National Mall Surveillance Enthusiast:
Forget the iconic character of H.G. Wells’ novel; this War of the Worlds stars Will Radford, a National Mall cop whose job involves spying on monuments and casually eavesdropping on random people. His primary tools? His computer and a drone. His performance is…memorable, to say the least.
Ice Cube’s Phoned-In Performance and Green Screen Gaffes:
The legendary Ice Cube lends his talents (or rather, the lack thereof) to the film. His character’s reaction shots are clearly cut and pasted, highlighting a lack of effort and ultimately showcasing the green screen that wasn’t convincingly edited out. It’s a spectacular case of “they didn’t even try”.
The Alien Threat: Data-Devouring Entities:
The aliens in this rendition are less tentacled monsters and more digital parasites. Their primary goal? Consuming our data. The film’s surprisingly imaginative (if utterly ludicrous) premise involves aliens feeding on information, causing widespread satellite outages, internet disruptions, and somehow, the mysterious demise of airplanes (but not satellites, for some reason).
Family Drama Amidst the Chaos:
Amidst this absurd alien invasion, we’re treated to a subplot involving Radford’s dysfunctional family. His workaholic tendencies, fueled by the death of his wife, lead to strained relationships with his children, Dave and Faith. The family drama is as bizarre and unconvincing as the alien invasion itself.
A Cliffhanger Ending That Will Leave You Baffled:
The film culminates in a truly bewildering climax. The family’s solution to saving the world? Writing a virus code. The absurdity is compounded by the Amazon driver character who inexplicably wears his uniform to his own baby shower. It’s a strange and jarring conclusion to an already peculiar movie.
Why You Should (Maybe) Watch It:
War of the Worlds (2023) is not a good movie. It’s objectively awful. However, its sheer audacity and unintentional comedic brilliance make it a fascinating case study in how not to make a movie. If you’re looking for a hilariously bad film to watch with friends, this might be your next guilty pleasure. Just manage your expectations, grab some popcorn, and brace yourself for a truly unique cinematic experience.
