The Men Who Fell (2007)

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

This mega-low-budget science fiction thriller delivers on many levels, but causes yawns on a few others. But let's not start this blurb with bitchiness - first, a plot recap. A space shuttle thing crashes in the desert stranding the two man crew, who are both convicts. Quite why criminals are being trusted as test pilots is never explained, I assume because they are expected to crash and burn. Literally. After a bit of running and gunning with post-apocalyptic desert scavenger types (and some truly impressive visual background effects), they enter a labyrinthine series of tunnels to complete a secret mission which will earn them a reduction of their sentences. The film is basically a two hander for the first three quarters of hour, with Ike Aaron Stielstra and Brendan Guy Murphy carrying the show on their own. Great work by both, though it was strange to see Stielstra playing a "normal guy" rather than his usual gurning, gibbering retard. Took me a while to acclimatise. Unfortunately, once the two enter the underground tunnel system after a promising first ten minutes, things bog down with a buttload of talk, complaining and interpersonal waffle. Like Thomas Magnum lost at sea, the film treads water for far too long and this viewer started getting a bit fidgety. The welcome arrival of the babelicious Kimberly Parmon and a truly horrifying villain kickstarts things again, and things get scary and messy leading to a rousing but slightly predictable ending. Though the film, upon geeky analysis, is a mishmash of bits and pieces from a few other sci-fi and horror classics, there is enough originality and effort involved to make this a commendable feature. Special credit to the costume department for a fine line in utilitarian futurism. Well worth watching, and not just for fans of dissonant film scores created on a melted Korg keyboard.

This movie is unique to say the least.Effects may not compare to a big budget horror film,yet it still invokes interest, and keeps you guessing till the end.The ending I admit, is terrible. Disappointing and not inventive yes the rest of the movie makes up for it. I feel it needs an alternative ending at the least. This film has good background effects but is slightly painful for the eye's yet this scene lasts only a few minutes. Some things were not completely done. More post production was required. The little things were overlooked.Overall 8/10

This movie considering its budget (none practically) and small work team is quite a technical accomplishment. The visual effects, sound effects, and overall sense of 'atmosphere' come together quite well on the screen to create a desolate, desert vision of the future. Also, the lead male is compelling and provides just enough character to fuel the sometimes clunky (and dragging) storyline.However, like other films of this caliber, the overall story development and acting tends to drag "The Men Who Fell" down into an amateurish production with little action. There were some points that remained unclear (the toys/chair/role of the Company..etc) and some plot lines that were completely unnecessary and trite (read: The Slayer). As for the acting, the strongest was by far the lead (kudos to the Demon too)... it is his crazed buddy and "the Slayer" who produce the bulk of the groan-inducing lines and stilted performances that remind viewers that they are definitely not viewing the work of professionals. That said, this film is worth a watch if you're looking to see ingenious set design and impressive special effects.

This is actually a great example of what a little ingenuity and perseverance can get you. The budget for this film was in the $25,000 dollar range. It's not Iron Man, but it is amazing what they were able to do with such a small budget.The miniature work is excellent. It is a sign of the times, when a few guys and girls from Tucson can produce a good little film without the stress of Hollywood. As a long jump into the cold world of film making "The Men Who Fell." holds it's own.Keep an eye on the technical elements and pay attention when this group of film makers gets their next one done.