The first science fiction film out of the UAE is actually not as bad as it first appears. Does Aerials contain slow, no action pacing? Yes. Does it contain subpar acting by relative unknowns? Yes. Does it lack the big budget excitement of a summer blockbuster with city-sized ships and their monument-destroying lasers? Definitely. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. This movie draws on the reactions of an ordinary couple under extraordinary circumstances, and shows what no other sci-fi film really truly handles: the fact that, until the destruction or the invasion begin, life does go on. The main characters, Omar and Omar's Wife, attempt to continue their lives while they discuss the reasons the aliens may have come to Earth. Both have clearly different beliefs due to their cultural differences, and as the movie's slow pace continues, it becomes clear they are being observed. Observed by both a HAL- like pulsing red lens on the aliens mothership and the aliens themselves, shadowy humanoid figures always at the periphery of the scene, never engaging or attacking, just observing, taking an active interest in the couple. Of course, this could be going on everywhere else, as well. The film never reveals much outside of the couple's home. Omar leaves only once, to talk to a couple of his friends who each have an opinion about what the aliens want. The tension builds as the aliens cut off all power and communication to the city, and presumably, the rest of the world. Clearly, the aliens do have an agenda. What it is, we are not privy to at first. Is Aerials the perfect film? Not by any standards. But it has more to offer than its string of 1-star reviews may represent. It's a slow burn and the acting, while not horrible, is believable. In reality, how many people would really give Oscar-worthy performances during these circumstances? This realistic acting gives the film a found-footage feel, but without the shaky-cam nausea and grainy image. The tension and claustrophobia are there, and the film sticks to the cardinal rule that it's what you don't see that can be scary. We never see an entire shot of the massive aliens ship, nor do we see the aliens in full light. My recommendation: give Aerials at least one viewing from start to finish. It's no 2001: A Space Odyssey, but I do welcome a return to the slow burn, atmosphere and the human element of these circumstances brought to film.
