KIDS VS. ALIENS is a new gory sci-fi horror movie with a young cast, but not for the youngest viewers. However, it’s great fun for the rest of us. It’s actually based on a segment from the V/H/S/2 anthology. The runtime is just 75 minutes. Read our full Kids vs. Aliens movie review!

KIDS VS. ALIENS is a new sci-fi horror movie based on one of the segments from the found footage horror anthology V/H/S/2 anthology. If the plot sound familiar, this may very well be the reason why. The runtime is a tight 1 hour and 15 minutes, so it’s short but sweet… and very colorful and slimy.

The tagline is “F*ck Space” which should tell you that despite a young cast, this sci-fi horror movie isn’t for the youngest viewers. This is both due to language and violent visuals. However, it’s very nostalgic fun for everyone else.

Continue reading our Kids vs. Aliens movie review below. Find it in Theaters, On Demand, and Digital from January 20, 2023

The nostalgia makes it worth watching

For me, Kids vs. Aliens is really great fun thanks to the wave of nostalgia that came rushing as I watched it. Despite taking place in a present-day world, the kids in this story have fun like they lived in the 1980s or 1990s. What I mean to say is that it’s less digital.

Not that I mind gaming or social media, but kids are making their own horror movies for their sake. Or trying to imitate wrestling stars because they love the drama of it, not because they want to beat up someone. That’s another thing I recognize from my own childhood.

The kids in Kids vs. Aliens are awesome. Especially when they see older kids and sound both exasperated and annoyed as they say “Ugh, teenagers!”. Instead of longing to be teenagers themselves, they revel in still being kids. However, one of them has an older sister who is actually a teenager. She’s just cool and still loves wrestling, so she’s their hero.

However, all of that is about to change as those darn teenagers try to infiltrate the group. Oh yeah, and then aliens show up and start melting the skin off of everyone they can get their alien hands on. Yes, really!

The wonderful young cast

The three young kids are portrayed by Dominic Mariche (Gary), Asher Grayson (Jack), and Ben Tector (Miles). All of them are really good, but especially Asher Grayson as Jack won me over immediately.

As the big sister hero, Sam, we see Phoebe Rex. I can definitely see why she was a hero to these kids!

And of those annoying teenagers, Calem MacDonald was the worst (or the best at being worst) as Billy. He’s a real creep and a true friend to no one but himself. But I must admit that Calem MacDonald (he played the young Dave in season 2 of The Umbrella Academy) did an excellent job at portraying him!

Kids vs. Aliens – Review | Gory Sci-fi Horror

From short to feature film

Kids vs. Aliens is actually based on the short film “Slumber Party Alien Abduction”. This was featured as a segment in the found footage horror anthology sequel V/H/S/2. It’s not the first time a segment from the V/H/S anthology has been turned into a feature film.

The 2016 horror movie Siren was based on the “Amateur Night” short that was featured in the first V/H/S from 2012.

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Read our review of Siren (2016) here >

Obviously, the segments in any anthology will be very different and the V/H/S franchise is no exception. In other words, Siren and Kids vs. Aliens don’t have anything in common really. Well, except for being based on short films that were in the found footage subgenre.

Check out Kids vs. Alien however you can!

Jason Eisener is the director of Kids vs. Aliens which he wrote with John Davies. The two also worked on the short film (of course) which was featured in the V/H/S/2 horror anthology. Also, Jason Eisener directed one of the short films in ABCs of Death. And he was a producer on Turbo Kid (2015) so he’s used to working with stories starring younger actors.

Jason Eisener and John Davies also made the short film Hobo with a Shotgun (2007) which became the 2011 feature film starring Rutger Hauer. Making a short film and adapting it into a feature-length movie just might end up becoming a trademark for these two. And hey, more power to them!

This new movie originally had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2022, but now it’s finally coming out to a wide audience. If you’re in the mood for a nostalgic sci-fi horror treat, then be sure to check out Kids vs. Aliens however you can (or simply prefer).

KIDS VS ALIENS is playing In Theaters, On Demand, and Digital from January 20, 2023. It will also be added to Shudder on April 14, 2023.

Details

Director: Jason Eisener
Writers: John Davies & Jason Eisener
Cast: Dominic Mariche, Phoebe Rex, Calem MacDonald, Asher Grayson Percival, Ben Tector

Plot

All Gary wants is to make awesome home movies with his best buds. All his older sister Samantha wants is to hang with the cool kids. When their parents head out of town one Halloween weekend, an all-time rager of a teen house party turns to terror when aliens attack, forcing the siblings to band together to survive the night.

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!
Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard
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