Now available on DVD
Cast:
Shane West as Keller
J.K. Simmons as Lt. Col. Arson
Leonard Roberts as Howston
Aldis Hodge as Anderson
Callum Blue as Wilcox
Directed by Alex Turner
Review:
Horror movies are not often set in a Middle Eastern combat zone. The Sci Fi Channel has given us Manticore and Monster Ark, but they are the exception to the rule. Considering how many genre outings are set in the woods or a creepy house/building, a scenery change is welcome.
Dead Birds director Alex Turner has provided a scenery change with Red Sands. Set in Afghanistan, the hunt for al Qaeda is on. A small group of soldiers is tasked with monitoring what is allegedly a terrorist supply road. On their way to the remote location, the troops spot an old statue. Failing to respect local artifacts, one of them shoots it. Prior to the gunfire one of the troop’s gives the others a little history lesson. He tells them about the djinn, a shape-shifting genie that hates humans. A prologue also supplies viewers with background information on the djinn, stating that they are part of pre-Islamic mythology.
The soldier’s explanation is one of those scenes that exist only to carefully explain the plot, just in case the prologue didn’t make it perfectly clear. He might as well have delivered his lines directly into the camera.
Later on the group establishes a sort of command post in a run down, abandoned structure. Not long after this a mysterious young woman shows up. Then all communication is lost and strange things start happening. Coincidence?
Red Sands is one of those movies that starts at the end and flashes back. Right away we learn that Keller (Shane West) is the group’s only survivor. He is telling Lt. Col. Arson (J.K. Simmons) exactly how the rest of the soldiers ended up dead. The problem with this storytelling technique is that it immediately removes potential suspense. We find out who lives and who dies in the beginning. Rather than wonder who is going to make it and who won’t, we already know.
It also takes a while for something to happen. For far too long the action consists of a dirty joke followed by some complaining and then another dirty joke. These guys might be bored but we shouldn’t be. During this time the unique setting mostly goes to waste.
Another problem is the lack of mystery surrounding the woman’s identity. There is never a shred of doubt about who she is. A little more effort to create ambiguity there would have livened things up a bit.
Horror is sorely lacking as well. Despite significantly setting up the djinn and their shape-shifting ways, we never see much of it. What we eventually do see is unconvincing CGI that resembles a video game more than anything else. It generates more chuckles than scares and takes the viewer right out of the action.
On the plus side, the cast is very good and there is a fair amount of unsettling imagery, especially near the conclusion. Turner utilizes night vision effectively and creates a tensely claustrophobic atmosphere in the last ten minutes or so.
Ultimately though Red Sands does not mark forward progress for Turner. It wastes a potentially novel setting and gives seasoned horror viewers too much of the same old stuff.
