Altered (2006)

A different way of telling a story

This is an astonishing documentary that will wring your heart while it bends your mind

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

7.2/10 As a huge fan of alien films, I've seen many lists and articles including this as a very underrated gory alien offering on a small budget. The director Eduardo Sánchez, who has definitive experience in crafting simplistically effective creepy films on tight funds clearly shows that talent here once again in even better fashion than Blair Witch Project. The overall story takes some time at first to develop within the group of 4 friends and their "guest". As pieces start falling together and developing it gets damn right insane and visceral and the tension gets extreme. I thought the action packed finale was spectacularly executed and satisfying and made up very well for the duller first half. The practical creature effects on the alien are top notch and very impressive for the production budget, as well as the brutally disgusting gore effects which do not led up for the entirety. The dialogue was absolutely ridiculous at times especially with the Cody character but it gave the film a certain personality and comedic aspect at times. The setting was a bit too limited as it was essentially shot in a couple rooms of a house but that's to be expected on a lower budget. The scenes where they were out in the forest at night were very ominous and I think they could've expanded the overall setting by utilizing that environment more. Overall this was a surprising alien film that shows you can do a lot with a little with the right people on board. I also recommend Sánchez's Bigfoot film "Exists" for a similarly solid story on a humble budget.

I was really surprised with what I got from Altered. Its a movie i've heard nothing about, so i wasn't expecting much, but what i got was a very thrilling, entertaining and suspenseful film that deserves more recognition than it gets.This movie creates something that is difficult to do. Build a dreaded atmosphere and icy cold psychology! I thought the idea behind the story was creative, while not trying to do too much with it. Its simple to follow and the characters contribute to some hidden depth.If you want a film that will give you more than just blood and guts, then Altered is one worth checking out!

In Altered, the director puts the "alien abduction" scenario on it's head. We've all seen movies and TV shows about alien abductions. They're a genre into themselves. But what happens when the abductees decide to kidnap an alien themselves? This is the question the director attempts to answer in a movie which can be taken as serious or comedic. Years ago, four friends were kidnapped in the wilds of Florida by aliens from outer space. They were eventually released, but only after the invaders had "done things" to them. Now they are grown men and the laughing stock of their small town. Nobody believed them at the time, nobody does now. Finally, tired of the ridicule, three of the four head out to a remote farm where the aliens have established a hidden compound. They manage to capture one of the aliens and haul it back. Their prey secured in a van, they take it to the last member of the four, Wyatt, who lives on an isolated compound. Wyatt is horrified; he's got a girlfriend living with him and still has vivid memories of what the creatures did to him. He's also in a psychic link with the aliens and knows they will be furious at having one of their number captured. All hell breaks loose when the captured alien breaks free in the compound. And, worse, a whole ground force of aliens are on their way to rescue their fallen comrade.The plot is tight. The film opens with the capture of the alien, then speeds to Wyatt's compound, where most of the action takes place. The actors who play the trio responsible for snaring the beast all do a top- notch collective performance as a bunch of confused and scared rednecks. The actor playing Wyatt has just enough fear and bravery to make him a great horror movie hero.Plus points to the team who did the effect work on the alien costumes; it was done without CGI. More plus points to the people who did the stunt work.I recommend giving this film a chance. You might be able to find a cheap used DVD.http://cinemaofhorror.com/altered/

I'd not seen this film before or even heard about It despite It being six-years-old at the time of writing, but I'm really glad that I've finally got to see It. Fifteen years before the time In which the film Is set,a group of 4 young men were - as Is gradually revealed to us as the movie progresses - abducted by a large group of humanoid aliens who are living on Earth and subjected to various experiments. One of the young men,Timmy,died and two were released,the last one,Wyatt,being selected for further 'treatment' and kept a little longer. Most of the Movie takes place In Wyatts' home but from the opening scene right through to the very end the action Is almost constant with no chance of becoming bored. The Aliens look excellent with some superb make-up and the special effects are top-notch. When one of the guys Is bitten and develops a disease, the scenes of him gradually festering and rotting away look totally convincing. Add to this a good storyline with some excellent acting, particularly from the four main characters (although there are only 6 characters plus the aliens In the whole movie)and what you have Is one of the best Movies of It's genre as I've ever seen. Excellent.