Alien Love Review: A Low-Stakes, Goofy Good Time!

April 26, 2025 Surya Komal 0 Comments Alien Love, English Movies, Hollywood, Hollywood Movie Reviews, Hollywood Movies, Nathan Hill, Sci-Fi

Alien Love is a quirky, low-budget sci-fi film that fully embraces its campy, offbeat nature. Directed by Simon Oliver and written by Nathan Hill and Simon Salamon, the film follows astronaut Ryan Van Hill-Song (Nathan Hill), who returns from a successful NASA mission with a troubling secret: an alien encounter that could have unforeseen consequences for him and his wife, Sadie (Ira Chakraborty). As Ryan’s behavior becomes increasingly bizarre, Sadie struggles to reconcile the man she knew with the stranger he’s become.

While the plot offers an intriguing premise—blending sci-fi and drama with a touch of absurdity—the performances leave much to be desired. Nathan Hill’s portrayal of Ryan is lacking in depth, offering little more than a stiff, unnatural presence that fails to capture the complexity of a man torn between two worlds. Ira Chakraborty, as Sadie, does her best to bring emotional weight to the role, but even she struggles to overcome the script’s lack of organic dialogue. Their interactions often feel slightly forced, making it partly hard to invest in the couple’s unraveling and very unstable relationship.

Despite these acting shortcomings, Alien Love finds its charm in the sheer audacity of its premise. Oliver’s direction leans into the film’s campiness, acknowledging the inherent absurdity of the situation while still allowing the audience to enjoy the ride. The film’s quirky take on alien encounters and the implications of space travel may not be executed flawlessly, but its willingness to embrace the strange is part of its appeal.

When it comes to production, Alien Love is definitely on the low-budget side, with modest visual effects and a simple, stripped-down look that feels like something out of indie cinema’s earlier days. But honestly, that roughness is part of its charm. Sure, the effects and sets don’t have the polish of a big-budget movie, but they fit right in with the film’s nostalgic, B-movie vibe. It’s clear the filmmakers weren’t chasing blockbuster spectacle — they just wanted to tell a fun, slightly absurd story that plays around with familiar sci-fi ideas.

That said, the movie does hit a few bumps, especially with the story structure. Some side plots feel a little half-baked, like they’re just there to stretch the runtime. The dialogue can also be a bit stiff, which pulls you out of the story a little. Still, these flaws don’t ruin the experience. In a weird way, they add to the movie’s quirky, self-aware personality. Alien Love never pretends to be anything it’s not — and that honesty is part of what makes it easy.

Alien Love isn’t going to be for everyone. It’s a mix of cheesy sci-fi, melodrama, and oddball humor that’ll probably hit best with fans of cult classics or anyone just looking for a low-stakes, goofy good time. It’s far from perfect, but its willingness to lean into the weird and ridiculous is exactly what makes it worth checking out — even if it’s just to see an astronaut deal with a bizarre alien pregnancy and watch his life spin wildly out of control.