By: debbie lynn elias
Debuting on the festival circuit at the AFI Film Fest in 2006 is a frighteningly comedic “horror” situation – ALIEN AUTOPSY. Based on the true story of a pair of Brits who make a film depicting their “autopsy” of an alien in Roswell, New Mexico, this is a not-to-be-missed horror mockumentary. For those of you that may recall the news item and the original hoax as it aired on the Fox TV Network in 1995, be warned – the truth may be out there but, here, you can’t believe what you see – at least not with ALIEN AUTOPSY.
Ray Santilli and Gary Shoefield are at the top of the charts on British television. Enter documentary director Morgan Banner. Established as a leader in documentary in the US, Banner and his crew visit Santilli and Shoefield for a secret interview on their “experience.”
Based on their “true story” Ray and Gary head to the States for purposes of hooking up with a man named Harvey who claims to have a non-copyrighted piece of film footage – an autopsy on an alien at Roswell in July 1947. Allegedly Harvey was in the military and participated in this most secret-of-secret alien autopsy.
Seeing the monetary potential in such a rare piece of history , the boys manage to come up with the $30,000 price tag (compliments of a Hungarian loanshark) for the autopsy film but you know that old saying, caveat emptor – let the buyer beware. Without batting an eye or looking at piece of celluloid, the boys hand over the cash to Harvey and rush back to England with their gold mine. Sadly, when they finally decide to look at the footage, it comes up blank.
Not wanting to find themselves in cement shoes or wind up like Jimmy Hoffa, Ray and Gary have a brainstorm – let’s make our own film of an alien autopsy! Let’s face it folks – all the synapses aren’t firing with these two. With the help of a kebab salesman named Melik and his girlfriend Jasmine, the group puts together a film acceptable and believable enough to loanshark Laszlo who in turn sells the film to international tv. Needless to say, the laughs take hold when the autopsy hits the open market.
Bill Pullman stars as documentary director Morgan Banner while Declan Donnelly and Ant McParlin take on Ray and Gary, respectively. Pullman is enjoyable enough but don;’t look for anything too inspiring from Donnelly and McPartlin. Omid Djalili as Melik, however, is an absolute scream. The real Ray and Gary also turn up in cameos.
Director Jonny Campbell brings his years of British television experience to the table and does a more than adequate job with the lensing of the film. Using a grainy technique, it bodes well for the mockumentary type project at hand. Although there are some glaring holes in the script and mockumentary style holds fast giving a comedic look at a pull-the-wool-over-the-eyes-of-the-world grifting of a perceived “horror.” Funny and entertaining although far from an X-File, you gotta see this ALIEN AUTOPSY.
Ray Santilli: Declan Donnelly
Gary Shoefield: Ant McParlin
Morgan Banner: Bill Pullman
Directed by Jonny Campbell. Written by William Davies. Rated PG-13. (95 min)
