Stephen King’s novel has had a bumpy road to the big screen, and whether

it’s the result of studio interference, budgetary restrictions or simple misjudgment, Cell feels like a jarring combination of ideas, styles and horror tropes that never quite come together.

Author Clay Riddell (John Cusack) has just landed at Boston Airport when a cell phone signal turns everyone using their device into bloodthirsty monsters. Teaming up with transport worker Tom McCourt (Samuel L Jackson), Clay sets out to fi nd his family, picking up teenaged Alice (Isabelle Furhman) and young Jordan (Owen Teague) along the way. However, the longer they stay alive, the more the horde is aware of them.

King’s novel had one hell of an opening before slipping into one of his more disposable horrors. Director Tod Williams does give his viewers a gory overture, but he seems to be much more interested in how these insane events are affecting the characters. This is admirable, but the script doesn’t really

sell it as the best decision, with clunky dialogue and some suspect exposition.

There are moments where it’s quietly affecting, and it frequently takes a welcome turn into mad dark comedy, highlighted by on-the-nose musical choices (Anita Ward’s ‘Ring My Bell’, Frank Simes’ ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’). Notably, the sequence at Stacy Keach’s school in which they confront a football fi eld of sleeping zombies is so bizarre it’s laugh-out-loud funny.

But when it assumes a straight face and goes into full-on zombie movie, Cell fl ounders. The action sequences are lacking, the Raggedy Man villain is simply not creepy, and it feels aimless as the group stumbles from stop to stop. Crucially, the connections between the characters never convince, so when Cell does want to hit you in the gut, it’s curiously unaffecting, although it is worth noting Furhman’s strong turn.

It’s not without its weird charms, but those moments are few and far between, and for the most part it’s gloomy and plodding.Jonathan Hatfull

CELL

The SignalThis three-part horror uses essentially the same premise, only with far more inventive and entertaining results.

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Details 15 // 98 mins // 26 August Director Tod Williams Screenwriters Adam Alleca, Stephen King Cast John Cusack, Samuel L Jackson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Owen Teague, Stacy Keach Distributor Signature Entertainment

This late-Seventies sci-fi hit is infused with the mythology of its star, David

Bowie, and the off-kilter worldview and ‘anything goes’ attitude of director Nicolas Roeg. Perhaps it’s this potent combo that establishes The Man Who Fell To Earth as a cult movie, regarded fondly by many.

Roeg is known for not storyboarding his movies – “God laughs at people who make plans” – and at over two hours, the meandering story refl ects this carefree attitude. Bowie is perfectly cast as billionaire Thomas J Newton, a ‘visitor’ who aims to develop tech to transfer Earth’s water to his drought-stricken home planet. With his wife and kids’ lives depending on him, he’s driven to succeed, despite drawing the attention of the press, jealous business rivals and a lovesick chambermaid with a gin habit.

If you’re looking for a gripping narrative then look elsewhere; enjoy the B-movie effects and crash zooms, melodramatic acting, eclectic soundtrack, Hockney-esque visuals and Bowie’s effortless charisma instead. Notice also the self-aware moments and in-jokes about Bowie’s

looks, fame and talent – the singing in church scene is a lovely one. The metaphors are obvious and heavy-handed, but what could be more entertaining than seeing a (literally) spaced-out Bowie in a skin-tight alien suit getting into a spaceship that looks like a Madeira cake on wheels?

Roeg’s infl uences here range from The Third Man to his ex-colleague Roger Corman, and even Stanley Kubrick, but look closer and you’ll see that The Man Who Fell To Earth has in turn infl uenced others, not least Ridley Scott’s vision for Roy Batty.

Because there’s so much to love, we should be able to forgive its fl abby, ridiculous moments and simply enjoy gazing at a star man – the “phenomenon of our time”, as the trailer dubs Bowie – and be thankful that his unused work for the score eventually became Station To Station.Nadia Attia

THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH Bowie’s

star man

StarmanJohn Carpenter’s cult 1984 thriller tells of an alien in a dead man’s body who fi nds love on the run.

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Details 18 // 139 mins // 9 September Director Nicolas Roeg Screenwriter Paul Mayersberg Cast David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, Bernie Casey Distributor Park Circus

TRI V I A ELI ROTH WAS ORIGINALLY ATTACHED TO DIRECT CELL WHEN THE BOOK WAS FIRST PUBLISHED, BUT DROPPED OUT DUE TO CREATIVE DIFFERENCES.T084 | WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK

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7SciFiNow scored 7 forThe Man Who Fell To Earth

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