Xtro (DVD)

Another classic movie of 1984's enhanced censorship in the UK was the movie Xtro, never officially banned the birth of certification in the UK put Xtro into exile for over 16 years. In 1984 all video libraries were given stickers so they could comply with certification handed down by the BBFC (British Board Of Film Classification), this was meant as a stop gap; those video libraries were then given two years to update their videos to copies with printed certificates on the casing. The then owners Amalgamated films could not afford to reproduce the videos and actually fell into receivership as a result of new government ruling. In 1987 a division of Polygram picked up the ...  Read the complete review

I'm sorry, but 'Xtro' is one of those films that I just don't get. This is kind of a shame, as on paper at least it seems right up my alley: alien comes to earth, alien kills people. Add to that a reputation for nastiness, with some strong gore scenes, and we should have us a winner. Sadly, what we have in reality is a film that resembles a low budget BBC drama, with a few splatters of blood, some unconvincing effects, and a series of frankly baffling scenes that belong in a David Lynch flick. The plot is wacky, to say the least. Basically, the film starts with a guy called Sam being abducted by aliens. Three years later, a spaceship ...  Read the complete review

I have to admit to being a big fan of sci-fi and horror movies(as those who read a lot of my ops. will no doubt have already guessed) but tend to find the former genre often full of movies which simply do not cut it. Xtro being a British movie, I was less than hopeful about it making the grade, especially when reading through the cast list throws up half the cast of Eastenders from days gone past. Nevertheless, having had it somewhat recommended to me and a free copy thrown my way I thought I would check it out... ...and it wasn't that bad. Neither was it that good, but its a creditable waste of a few hours. The basic plot behind what turns out to ...  Read the complete review

XTRO is nothing more than a blatant ALIEN ripoff, with disgusting gore and a general tone of extreme unpleasantness making it definitely an acquired taste. But if you're in the mood for something gross yet colorful and imaginative, and you have a strong stomach and even sturdier sensibilities, you might find a very good time here. The film starts with a father being abducted by a beam of light from a UFO; he's snatched up into the sky as his young son watches in horror. A year later, he returns, human on the outside but definitely extraterrestrial internally; he's come to claim his son and take him back with him. But he's living with his mother, ...  Read the complete review

I remember seeing this film in the early eighties, I thought it was a brilliant effort for a british film,competing against the giants of hollywood. The basic story is about a boys father being abducted by aliens and then seemingly(in gory detail), being born again, in adult form, and pursuing his son and wife,(who by this time had a new man). The film was quite surreal at times and it needed to be watched carefully to pick up the gist of the story, but if you persevere I think you will agree that ,for it's time, it was a credible effort at the sci-fi/horror genre. ...  Read the complete review