Dead Space: Downfall

(2008) ***

My second theme this year is animated horror. This is the first in a few I'd like to unleash this October. I must say another good one, I'm on a roll. This film was released as a prequel to the game Dead Space. I was expecting little and got much, much more. Blood, violence, blood, alien creatures, blood, mutating beings, blood, space crafts and did I mention blood. This movie kicked some ass. A survey team from the Ishimura discover an artifact on an alien world. On the surface of the planet tensions rise and acts of violence are reported to occur between the miners and crew members. On top of that, a religious sect called the Unitologists is demanding access to the artifact. After a disturbing distress call from a shuttle escaping the planet, the ship decides to lock down. Unfortunately they are too late, the shuttle boarded before the bay doors could be secured and it's pilot wasn't alone. Huge bug-like creatures infest the ship and transform crew members into ravenous man-bug-alien creatures. It becomes a battle for survival and it's up to Vincent and her security crew to hunt down and kill the beasts.


This is a nonstop bloodbath. The critters are cool and the language is gritty. The creatures are relentless which proves the crew to be all too human. They are no match for these aliensects. Because of the fast pace it seemed like this flick was over in a flash. I love that in animated horror, too much dialog makes for a real snooze fest. Seriously, in animation you can do anything. Anything! No limits and it's a horror, who wants to waste time on long meaningful conversation. Give me hideous creatures, bulging eyes, mutations and lots and lots of blood. Now I'm a happy camper. Although every time I heard someone say Unitologist I thought Scientologist. Although I doubt a Scientologist could kick ass like the Unitologist big ass Indian chief guy in the film. Good fun and a pretty good story to boot.