3. Almost Human
Celluloid Screams 2013 was very proud to present this UK premier on it's final day under the Mystery Movie banner and no one in attendance was left disappointed by the selection. Looking like it had come straight out of someone's 1980's VHS collection the film opens in 1987 with the mysterious disappearance of two men from Maine during a bout of electrical storms. The only two people who know the truth have only cloudy memories of the events and are more than aware that no one will ever believe their claims of alien abduction. Cut to 2 years later and one of the men suddenly reappears naked in the forest. When two hunters approach him to see if he is OK it becomes clear that this is not the same man who was sucked into the sky at the beginning of the movie but instead was a violent, homicidal pod person intent on infecting the local townsfolk with his alien spawn. All that stands in his way is his former best friend Seth and his ex girlfriend both of whom were present on the night of his apparent abduction. But with no one in authority willing to believe what they are saying is true how will they ever be able to save the planet from being taken over? Almost Human is an excellent homage to the video nasties of yesteryear and credit where credit is due the filmmakers have done an excellent job of creating an authentic '80's vibe, and comparisons to John Carpenter's The Thing are spot on. You will not be sorry you watched this - provided you didn't mix it up with the TV series of the same name - even if the main alien dude does look way too much like Seth Rogen.