Outpost film review

certificate_18

OUTPOST

A low budget horror effort which struggles to really get anywhere, Outpost does at least have an interesting (albeit totally preposterous) idea at its heart. What would have happened if the Nazis had never died?

To explain further: what would have happened if the Nazis had developed a special kind of particle generator that kept its soldiers alive, buried it in a bunker in the middle of Eastern Europe and left it and a surviving cadre of troops in situ for the last 60 years?

This is the question vexing particle scientist Hunt (Julian Wadham), who hires a team of mercenaries (complying with every cliche in the book) in order to protect him while he seeks out and investigates said bunker. Presumably it's meant to be a horror-fuelled experience, but most viewers are likely to find the impending sense of menace far too slowly portrayed.

The cast struggle with a script that never really convinces, and the whole thing looks as thought it would be better-suited to a video game. An overblown score also becomes increasingly irritating.

Having said all of that, it does look very good thanks to some excellent cinematography, and the Nazis are effectively portrayed. But this is really one for dvd.

Paul Hurley