Alien Love is an ambitious indie sci-fi thriller to be sure. Ryan Van Hill-Song (Nathan Hill) is a celebrated NASA astronaut who has just returned from a routine mission that was anything but. It seems that there was a lapse in communication, 90 seconds to be exact, during Ryan’s time in space leaving him forever changed. With an increasing sense that something is wrong those closest to him attempt to uncover what Ryan may have come home with. Unfortunately, writer director Nathan Hill‘s obvious passion for film isn’t enough to save Alien Love from the common pitfalls of low budget cinema.

When Ryan returns home from his mission things are off. He seems as if he is suddenly a new person. Familiar surroundings and situations are totally, dare I say, ALIEN to him. His supportive if clueless wife Sadie Van Hill-Song(Ira Chakraborty) continues to look awkwardly at him when Ryan has no recollection of things that happened before his trip to space. One thing that Ryan instantly becomes re-fascinated with is a collection of investigative UAP documentary dvds that have been sitting near the television in the living room. Then there is his trip to a support group for those who claim to have been abducted by or have seen alien life forms.

Sadie seeks the help of Grandmother (Savita Bungay) in her attempts to solve the issue of Ryan’s mysterious behavior. However things only get worse. Much worse in fact, resulting in a new life form growing inside Sadie. What is behind Ryan’s mysterious behavior? Will the government track down Ryan before Sadie can solve the mystery? The good news is that writers Nathan Hill and Simon Salamon deliver an answer and resolution to the tale. The bad news is that the script suffers from a simplistic portrayal of some pretty interesting circumstances. Couple that with direction from Simon Oliver that seems more interested in run time that actual action, and you have a plodding mess.

It gives me little joy to offer a bitter critique. Indie films are made from genuine love. However that love is often clouded by myriad compromises, most of which are unavoidable. Yet, good choices can still be made. We as the audience do not need to see the same character walk an entire block twice to know that they have gone to and returned from a bar. I kid you not, this happens. in Alien Love. It happens at a time when there is a much more interesting situation unfolding between Ryan and Sadie that could mean the end of their relationship, but no, let’s watch them stomp down a sidewalk at night in a long endless shot. Twice.

Hill and Salamon would have benefited from really diving into the dynamics of the two lead characters to explore the disturbing changes that follow a life changing trip into space. Little to no effects are needed aside from a good script and of course capable actors. I say all of this to say, Alien Love was a project that showed potential with a script that wasn’t ready to shoot.