Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Horrors of war shock and awe
World War II-set horror Overlord arrives on the back of intense speculation over its plot, with early rumours suggesting J.J. Abrams’ presence as producer hinted it was the fourth instalment in the Cloverfield franchise.
Thankfully, though, it stands on its own two mud and gore-covered feet as a simple-buteffective tale of terror and mystery.
Set on the eve of D-Day, we follow a squad of American paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines into a Nazi-occupied village.
But what they believe is a simple military operation quickly degenerates into a journey into hell as they find themselves pitted against supernatural forces.
Michael Mann’s The Keep and Brit flick Deathwatch went over fairly similar ground, but Billy Ray and Mark L. Smith’s screenplay adds enough shocking surprises to keep the war-time scares fresh.
Director Julius Avery helms only his second ever feature film – after 2014’s little-seen drama Son of a Gun – and proves to be a dab hand at building tension, even when the story gets more and more out of control.
Much like the original Predator, the opening act, which features Overlord’s visual highlight – a fog and scorched sky-lit descent passing bodies hanging from trees – very much plays out like a war movie.
And in keeping with that genre’s finest, we are introduced to a diverse, endearing crew of soldiers, led by Wyatt Russell’s Sergeant Ford.
Russell has impressed in minor roles in the likes of Cowboys & Aliens and Ingrid Goes West but shows he’s got much more to offer with a charismatic turn.
Jovan Adepo (Boyce) is given just as much screen time and his wet-behind-the-ears private doesn’t only act as the audience’s eyes and ears; with his impressive range, Adepo is a burgeoning talent worth keeping tabs on.
It’s also nice to see Glaswegian Iain De Caestecker in a rare big screen role – just reward for his excellent work on TV’s Agents of S.H.I.E.LD.
However, Pilot Asbæk’s Nazi scientist Dr Wafner is a generic, predictable presence and while the lack of true big names in the cast means literally anyone can perish, you do sometimes pine for a steadier, more experienced hand within the ensemble.
To go deeper into developments would be entering spoiler territory and it’s best to go in with as little knowledge as possible; suffice to say our protagonists are put through the mill.
The gore count is high and there are monstrous creations to scorch your eyeballs and linger in your mind; the horrors of war aren’t confined to the battlefield as science mixes uncomfortably with the human body.
Pulpy, cool and packing its fair share of carnage, the infectiously entertaining Overlord has got cult hit written all over it.