I’ve heard people raving about “Attack the Block” for months, and knowing it was produced by “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” writer/director Edgar Wright, I was anxious to see it. I was told it was a great blend of funny and frightening. But after sitting through the film, I wasn’t moved to either emotion. I found myself continuously lingering somewhere in the middle hoping, almost begging, to be pulled in one direction or another.
“Attack the Block” is a universal tale of humans versus aliens. But this time, the heroes of the day are teenage muggers who witness flaming objects from the sky, which turn out to be aliens. The group teams up with their victim and set about defending “the block," the area of town in which they all live.
As the boys in the group, especially its leader Moses (John Boyega), transform from delinquents to heroes, they discover what has brought the aliens to the planet and concoct a plan to take them out in one big action.
The film does have its moments that make you jump or bring a smile to your face, but the movie has trouble keeping its pace a times and that herky-jerky stop-and-go, even if it only happens a time or two, causes the beats to seem uneven.
But the biggest fault of the film is its lack of a terrifying creature. The alien beings that menace the group lack the bite that could make them very menacing. The glowing teeth are cool, and the way director/writer Joe Cornish films some scenes is impressive for a debut artist, but “Attack the Block” is just a run-of-the-mill horror film.
Where the “Attack the Block” Blu-ray excels is in its special features. The disc features three commentary tracks, a “Meet the Gang” and “Creature Feature” featurettes and the “Behind the Block” documentary.
Obviously, “Attack the Block” isn’t a movie for everyone and its appeal strikes each person differently and at varying levels. The flick has its moments that suck you in and deliver. However, the film is uneven and lacks the spark that makes it a worthy addition to your horror library.
Film: 3 Yaps
Extras: 4 Yaps