Alien Love (2024) Film Review
Navigating through the world of Nathan Hill’s unique style of filmmaking has been a treat. By this point, I’ve seen it all (except horror). From his steamy and raunchy detective story to his approach of a more profound style of romance. But what I’ve arrived at is something else altogether. While time has inevitably turned him into a more mature filmmaker, Hill never discards his drive to indulge in risky projects. And what else is riskier than making a romantic film about alien love?
Hill is literal about his latest film. He doesn’t beat around the bush trying to find fancy titles. He just calls it Alien Love and makes a film about a human who’s in love with an alien. Well, it’s not exactly that, as the film would be a cheaper version of Starman. Instead, he adds the level of intrigue that’s necessary to recognize he’s grown inside the spectrum of independent and B-movie madness: Hill has decided to stay where he feels comfortable. Good for you.
Alien Love follows Ryan Van Hill-Song, an astronaut who has returned from space. There was a minor incident in which he lost contact, but he appears to be OK. At least, that’s what Sadie, his wife, believes. They reconnect once Ryan gets back, and things get steamy, Nathan Hill-style. It doesn’t take long before the usual scene with a pregnancy test confirms that Sadie is going to be a mother soon.
The thing is, to what exactly? Ryan isn’t the same dude he once was. He jogs and stares at statues and gets aroused by other women. This is where the film loses some steam when it becomes too obvious, as it reveals that Ryan is actually an alien creature disguised as a human being. Nevertheless, it’s Hill’s vehicle, and as always, what he came up with should get some respect.
The third act feels a bit rushed, especially when the film progresses at a slow-burn pace. We can imagine Hill is just complying with his own rule of making his movies shorter than required, but it felt weird when the story ended and not many answers appeared. Could this mean he’s planning something for the future? Only time will tell, but for now, he can check the “alien film” subgenre on the list. He’s done it, and he made something watchable out of it.
There are no fancy details or effects. Hill is always experimenting and he does the usual drone shot that’s very common in modern indie films. He works with non-professional actors who give their best to add some authenticity to Hill’s filmography. Alien Love is not a movie that can compete with its peers, but then again, do you remember ever seeing a low-budget romantic sci-fi story? Some accomplishments call for a celebration, and during these celebrations, Hill will surely analyze what to do next and what not to try in terms of storytelling. There is growth here, and sometimes, that’s the only thing that matters.
