Retro Review - Double Feature

This time, we're kicking things up a notch. Last night (as of this writing), I decided to check out some older movies available on Amazon Prime. In my search, I found many films I was always interested in seeing but was either too young to watch at the time, or had forgotten about it as I got older. Having just gotten over the disappointing awfulness of Netflix's most recent release, Extraction, I think this is the perfect time to look back at some cheesy classics we almost forgot about. Ladies & gentlemen, this is TheNorm's first-ever Double Feature Retro Review. Let's get started. 

This is one that you have likely seen the poster for in the window of your local Blockbuster. That is when they were still around. Some of you may be familiar with the director, Russell Mulcahy, as he also made the cult classic Highlander. While Silent Trigger has the same amount of bombast as that great 80s classic, this relic from the 90s doesn't have the same level of narrative texture. Which, I realize, is an odd thing to nitpick, but part of what makes Highlander so remarkable, aside from the swords and Sean Connery, is its rich story and profound mythology. Whereas this bit of 90s schlock seems to think it can get by just as much with the poor man's Arnold Schwarzenegger. Spoilers, it could not. 

Dolph Lundgren plays a professional sniper hired to take out a target. His employers have had some robust experience with him in the past, but apparently really need him, because he is just that good. His spotter (Gina Bellman) also has a history with him. Which they continuously discuss in-between flashbacks of their prior mission together after it went south. 

While there is a great deal of cheesy 90s action movie schlock to be enjoyed, what keeps it from being as memorable as Highlander is the lackluster script. It feels less like a screenplay with characters and story elements and more like a checklist of cool & awesome things that need to happen to meet a quota. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that all silly action movies need scripts on-par with the likes of Sam Fuller. I'm just saying that even if your film is mainly about breathtaking set pieces and action heroes handling massive guns, you could at least give me a more narratively sound reason to care. 

Which brings me to the second feature of this particular review. 

In August of 1989, legendary filmmaker James Cameron released his underwater epic called The Abyss. The story followed deep-sea team divers trapped in their marine facility after a complication from assisting the military in retrieving data and parts from a lost Nuclear Submarine. Not to mention having the occasional encounter with a mysterious lifeform never seen before. It is regarded as one of the best science fiction films of James Cameron's career and has spawned a whole sub-genre of submerged situations gone horribly wrong. However, in January of the same year, another movie similar to The Abyss hit theaters. It was called Deepstar Six. Much like James Cameron's flick, it was about a deep-sea diving team trying to survive a series of unfortunate events. The only difference is the enemy. 

Deepstar Six follows a team of underwater workers installing a missile launch site for the military. Just before they're ready to go home, they discover a cavern underneath their intended spot. Because they're under a tight schedule, they decide to blast the area to make room for the missiles. However, in doing so, they have unleashed something old, gigantic, and furious. Now they must find a way to get back to the surface before the water, or something worse, claims them for itself. 

As I said, there are a lot of movies that match this Alien but underwater concept. Just this past January, there was another one with Kristine Steward simply titled Underwater. Which, much like Netflix's Extraction, is lousy and forgettable, but I digress. 

Of all the films I have seen in this sub-genre, Deepstar Six is actually one of the better ones, mainly for three reasons. First, it does a fantastic job introducing all the characters with relatable personalities. You get to know them just well enough to genuinely care about their situation. You want them all to survive. Second, the special effects are incredible. From the miniatures to the creature, everything looks on-point. Third, the pacing is varied with a great balance between character development and suspenseful action. 

Deepstar Six is my kind of movie. The type that reiterates the philosophy that just because you don't have to do a good job, that does not mean you shouldn't. It's silly in all the right places and tense when it needs to be. If you're looking for a quick fix of classic 80s style monster movies, and you've already seen the essentials, give this one a shot. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.