Nine years after alien forces invaded and colonised Earth, an underground movement, stealthily, plans an attack to fight back.
This is not the “cinema of attractions”. No Independence Day (1996) effects with marching songs while shouting “we will fight” narrative. Captive State focuses on the world’s political and socio-economic state after the extra-terrestrials’ colonisation, leaving out the early terraforming practices. As stated next to the title, it is a sci-fi/thriller and not an action film. Political-espionage case scenarios resembling Europe just before WWII cannot be avoided.
The acting is solid and so is the photography and directing. If you asked me what I think it lacks the most I would say emotional investment. I felt hard to engage as the main characters are underdeveloped. Also, the masterplan gets too complicated on occasion even though it offers the desired twist. I guess the script could have gone through maybe a couple of more rewrites.
A perfect example of a groundbreaking sci-fi/thriller came only ten years before “Captive State” and it is none other than District 9 (2009) – Neill Blomkamp’s finest film to date.
You can find it here: https://amzn.to/2SzbkGs
I watched this one the other day and quite enjoyed it.
Despite its flaws, I will admit that I found it thought provoking.