Its a new week, and a new feature for your eyes. This time, we return to the world of green power armor and space aliens. Yes, the world based on the popular video game, HALO, gets a new film.Well, miniseries put in a movie format on DVD. Close enough. So, how will this one stand up?
The Story
Jameson Locke is a legendary manhunter and agent with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Earth’s most powerful and secretive military branch. He and his team are investigating terrorist “chatter” on the distant colony world of Sedra, when they are caught in a horrific biological attack. Led by Locke, ONI agents are forced to coordinate with Randall Aiken, a local commander with a remarkable history and deep-rooted mistrust of ONI. As they unravel a plot that draws them to an ancient, hellish artifact, they will be forced to fight for their survival, question everything, and ultimately choose between their loyalties and their lives.
The Cast
Mike Coulter as Locke. While he is currently better known as being cast as MARVEL’s Luke Cage in 3 of their upcoming Netflix series, Coulter has a good number of appearances under his belt, from films and shows like SALT, ZERO DARK THIRTY, MEN IN BLACK 3, THE FOLLOWING, THE GOOD WIFE and also making an appearance in the newest release of HALO.
Steve Waddington as Aiken. Aiken also appeared in film like SLEEPY HOLLOW, LAST OF THE MOHICANS, and THE IMITATION GAME.
Christina Chong as Macer. Has made appearances on the shows DOCTOR WHO & 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY, as well as films like JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN, RED MIST/FREAKDOG, and the upcoming STAR WARS episode THE FORCE AWAKENS.
Luke Neal as Horrigan. MAde appearances on media like MERLIN, DOC MARTIN, MI-5, and JUPITER RISING
The Dissection
The last film with the HALO brand to be released on DVD, FORWARD UNTIL DAWN, was released back in 2012. A 4 part miniseries, it went to build a bit more of the world featured to HALO, building up this lore for it’s universe. It seemed to succeed, and help lead to this iteration. NIGHTFALL, however, doesn’t work like that. Apart from a bit of familiar imagery here or there, this film feels like it could belong to any sci-fi property with little to alterations
What helps prove that is that the plot, more or less, feels like what was done with PITCH BLACK, only there’s no Riddick to be had. You have these group of people who are stuck in a desolate area, who are faced with the threat of death by these creatures and from each other. A time limit for having to escape from the location there are at is also thrown in as well. Apart from that, you got the stock character sets, like the soldier who wants to go back to his kids, the war torn soldier with a death wish, references to drawing straws, the double cross and the crazy plan to make sure the heroes make it to the end. It’s a plot that, by the half way make, you will know who ends up making it by the end.
Locke (Coulter) after the situation going way beyond FUBAR.
The movie is best described as a mixed bag. The visual design of the film can look good, like with shots of the team in armor and in the world they live in, or it can look cheap, mostly in the cgi effects for the monsters or on how the film seems shot. The acting isn’t terrible, albiet a line along the lines of “I thought we were in the 9th circle of hell, but there seems to be a bonus level” is just horrible. The film does seem to push the concept of a god complex in here a lot, from the narrator pushing this during various points, as well as it being brought up during the middle of the film by the characters. It was in need a bit more subtly, and less mentions for it to have the impact it wanted it to have. The way it is, it feels like a set up to a drinking game.
The disc it comes with has a good number of features, with several video features detailing things like the cast, the look of the film, and a lot of the behind the scenes features in the film. Overall, a decent amount of extras, and worth a look after viewing the film.
Even Covenant want to try the Chaos Dunk. Come on and slam, and welcome to the jam!
The Verdict
NIGHTFALL feels less like a extended universe story for HALO, and more like a pretender trying to connect itself to the game. It would fit more in the world of STARSHIP TROOPERS or the afformentioned PITCH BLACK, and really has nothing to present other than the same formula under the guise of being related to a popular franchise. Fans of HALO may have something to get into, but the lack of anything related to the series for most of the film may be a deal breaker for most as well. Overall, not worth seeking out.