Arrowhead (2015 film)

Last updated
Arrowhead
Directed byJesse O'Brien
Written byJesse O'Brien
Produced by
  • Christian D'Alessi
  • Jesse O'Brien
  • Ben Whimpey
Starring
CinematographySamuel Baulch
Music byRyan Stevens
Release dates
  • November 2015 (2015-11)(SciFi Film Festival)
  • June 2016 (2016-06)(Australia)
Running time
99 minutes [1]
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$180,000

Arrowhead (also released as Alien Arrival) is a 2015 Australian science fiction film directed by Jesse O'Brien. It stars Dan Mor as Kye Cortland, an escaped political prisoner who is recruited by a rebellion to rescue his father from a totalitarian government. During his mission, he crash lands on a desert moon, which he learns has strategic value to both sides of the conflict.

Contents

Plot

While escaping a political prison on a mining colony, Kye Cortland is forced to amputate his foot to save himself and the other prisoners from being torn apart by the mining machinery. Cortland is recruited to join the rebellion against General Lang, who won a civil war against General Hatch. Hatch explains to Cortland that his father, an important figure to the rebellion, is scheduled to be executed in several months on the anniversary of Lang's victory. Hatch wants Cortland, an accomplished pilot, to hijack a scientific vessel, retrieve its data, and use it to help Hatch free Cortland's father. Cortland receives a cybernetic foot and agrees.

Onboard the Arrowhead, Cortland wakes from suspended animation early and hacks into the vessel's data banks. He is concerned when this appears to lower the ship's defenses, but Hatch remotely assures him that it will be temporary and perfectly safe. A dangerous EMI flare-up prevents Cortland from sending the data to Hatch and damages the ship, forcing it to eject all the escape pods. Cortland escapes in a shuttle, landing near the escape pods on a desert moon. The ship's AI, RE3F, warns him of a toxic atmosphere but refuses to give further data without a valid login.

Exploring, Cortland finds the body of Arrowhead's security chief, Norman Oleander, and an intact pod with biologist Tarren Hollis. Cortland brings Hollis back to the shuttle and, after reviving her, uses her biometric data to activate RE3F. Hollis surmises Cortland is working for Hatch, who she says has been engaging in terrorist attacks; Cortland dismisses her accusations as propaganda. Hollis, who recognises Cortland as a soldier who served with her father, offers him a fair trial if he accompanies her to a rendezvous point where survivors will be rescued. Cortland declines.

Cortland rejoins her when RE3F refuses to start the shuttle's engines with Hollis' login. On the way, a hostile insectoid creature attacks and apparently kills Cortland, causing Hollis to miss the rescue. A nearby obelisk resurrects Cortland, infecting him with a symbiote and healing all his wounds, including his foot. Hollis and Cortland drag Oleander's body to the same obelisk, resurrecting him and using his biometric data to unlock all of RE3F's functions. Hollis convinces Cortland not to leave Oleander behind. However, when Oleander revives, he begins ranting and turns hostile. After Oleander shoots Hollis, Cortland kills him and collapses from his own wounds.

When Cortland revives, RE3F tells him he was dead for thirty-four days. The symbiote has again revived him, but Hollis is gone, apparently dead. With RE3F's help, Cortland works to restore the shuttle's power and escape the moon in time to rescue his father. Cortland discovers his symbiote causes him to transform into the insectoid creature during periods of intense stress or pain. After suffering an uncontrolled transformation, Cortland misses the anniversary. Resigned, Cortland spends the next three years bonding with RE3F, learning to control his transformation, and surviving on the moon. During this period an insectoid is attacking Cortland's refuge and thanks to RE3F he finds out that the insectoid is based on Oleander’s cells. Cortland sets up a trap and manages to kill Oleander by killing himself. Cortland is revived once again.

RE3F cannot volunteer information and must be asked questions. After a chance comment, Cortland learns from RE3F that Hollis survived the fight and possibly escaped the moon. Cortland is frustrated RE3F unwillingly withheld the information but scavenges parts from the shuttle to upgrade RE3F, giving it a mobile frame. Cortland set up an expedition to find out information about Hollis destiny and while exploring a deep cave he finds the two original bodies of Oleander and himself merged to a sort of organism deeply embedded in the planet. Cortland finally kills Oleander and tries to kill himself but failing doing so in a self preservation effort. He then finds out that Hollis left the planet with another pod. Grateful, RE3F illegally grants Cortland access to confidential information, revealing that the moon is the subject of a relativistic time dilation experiment. Hatch and Lang want to use the planet offensively against each other's forces.

Hatch lands on the moon, explaining that 20 minutes have passed from his point of reference. He has captured Hollis and threatens to kill her unless Cortland hands over the scientific data. Realizing Hatch, who admits to mass murder in pursuit of his goal, never intended him to survive, Cortland refuses. Cortland wounds Hatch with a grenade initially embedded in his cybernetic foot, then kills him by transforming. Hollis talks him down and helps him transform back to a human. The two plan to leave the moon and not only free Cortland's father but everyone else, too.

Cast

Production

Arrowhead was based on a short film Melbourne filmmaker Jesse O'Brien shot in 2012. [2] Using this short film, which cost $600, O'Brien started a crowdfunding campaign for a feature version. [3] Although the campaign was unsuccessful, it led to industry attention; TV1 offered $140,000 in funding, and O'Brien received another $40,000 from a production company started by friends he met at film school. [4] Foxtel subsequently discontinued TV1, but they reassured O'Brien they were still committed to funding the film. [5] Shooting took place in Coober Pedy and Sunshine, Victoria, [3] over 22 days. [4] O'Brien said he spent almost the entire budget during production, leaving only $1000 for post-production. [5]

Release

Arrowhead premiered at the SciFi Film Festival Sydney in November 2015. [6] It was released in June 2016 in Australia and New Zealand by StudioCanal, through Universal Sony, and has also been released in Japan, Germany and the UK. [5] Deals were announced for US and Canadian distribution in September 2016. [7] Released on Netflix streaming on 23 September 2017. [8]

Reception

J. R. Southall of Starburst rated it 5/10 stars and wrote that the film, though entertaining, includes too many disparate themes. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Kangaroo Jack</i> 2003 film by David McNally

Kangaroo Jack is a 2003 buddy comedy film directed by David McNally from a screenplay by Steve Bing and Scott Rosenberg with a story by Bing and Barry O'Brien. It is also produced by Jerry Bruckheimer with music by Trevor Rabin. The film stars Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Estella Warren, Michael Shannon and Christopher Walken, with Adam Garcia as the uncredited voice of the titular character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Hatch (actor)</span> American actor, writer and producer

Richard Lawrence Hatch was an American actor, writer, and producer. Hatch began his career as a stage actor before moving on to television work in the 1970s. Hatch is best known for his role as Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica television series. He is also widely known for his role as Tom Zarek in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.

"Power Play" is the 115th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is the 15th episode of the fifth season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cletus Kasady</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Cletus Cortland Kasady is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer David Michelinie and artist Erik Larsen, the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #344 as the first and most infamous host of the Carnage symbiote, an offspring of Venom. Originally a deranged serial killer, Kasady bonded with the symbiote while sharing a cell with Venom's human host, Eddie Brock, and broke out of prison using the super-human abilities granted by it. Since then, he went on to menace both Venom and Spider-Man, resulting in various unlikely alliances between the two to defeat him. Kasady and Carnage are a perfect match, as they both have sadistic personalities, and the symbiote only increases Kasady's already existent violent tendencies. After being separated from the redeemed Carnage symbiote in Absolute Carnage, Kasady nonetheless continued calling himself Carnage, bonding with Grendel, Mania and several other symbiotes to become Dark Carnage.

"Dawn" is the thirty-ninth episode of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, the thirteenth of the second season. Set in the 2100s of the Star Trek universe, the NX-01 Enterprise has set out to explore the galaxy.

<i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (miniseries) 2003 American science fiction miniseries

Battlestar Galactica is a three-hour miniseries starring Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, written and produced by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Michael Rymer. It was the first part of the Battlestar Galactica remake based on the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, and served as a backdoor pilot for the 2004 television series. The miniseries aired originally on Sci Fi in the United States starting on December 8, 2003. The two parts of the miniseries attracted 3.9 and 4.5 million viewers, making the miniseries the third-most-watched program on Syfy.

<i>The Venom Saga</i> Story arc from the 1994 animated series Spider-Man that focused on Venom

The Venom Saga is a story arc from the 1994 animated series Spider-Man that focused on Venom. The description of the name and chosen episodes debuted in home media by Buena Vista Home Entertainment. The first three episodes are the three-part episode entitled "The Alien Costume" from the first season. The last two are the two-part episode entitled "Venom Returns" and "Carnage", which debuted in the third season. These certain episodes are responsible for debuting the symbiotic characters Venom and Carnage outside of comic books. The arc was released on DVD as Spider-Man: The Venom Saga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venom (character)</span> Marvel Comics character

Venom is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is a sentient alien symbiote with an amorphous, liquid-like form, who survives by bonding with a host, usually human. This dual-life form receives enhanced powers and usually refers to itself as "Venom". The symbiote was originally introduced as a living alien costume in The Amazing Spider-Man #252, with a full first appearance as Venom in The Amazing Spider-Man #300.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanctuary for All</span> 1st and 2nd episodes of the 1st season of Sanctuary

"Sanctuary for All" is the two-part series premiere of the science fiction television series Sanctuary, a television spinoff from the web series of the same name. Both parts originally aired on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States for October 3, 2008, and subsequently aired on ITV4 in the United Kingdom on October 6 and October 13, 2008. They were written by Damian Kindler, and directed by Martin Wood; both were known for their works on the Stargate franchise.

<i>Space Buddies</i> 2009 American film

Space Buddies is a 2009 American science fiction comedy film. It is the third film in the Air Buddies franchise. It was released on February 3, 2009. Like Air Buddies and Snow Buddies, it was released directly on DVD and became the first one to be released on Blu-ray.

<i>Darlah</i> 2008 novel by Johan Harstad

DARLAH is a 2008 young adult science fiction/horror novel by Norwegian author Johan Harstad. The book was originally published in Norway on September 15, 2008 by Cappelen Damm, with an English language translation being published by Little, Brown in New York City on July 10, 2012. Rights to DARLAH have also been sold to sixteen other countries: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, France, the Netherlands, Germany, UK, Turkey, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico and Brazil. In 2008 Harstad's work on DARLAH won him a Brage Prize.

<i>Stranded</i> (2013 film) 2013 film

Stranded is a 2013 science fiction-horror film directed and co-written by Roger Christian and Christian Piers Betley (writer/producer) starring Christian Slater, Brendan Fehr, Amy Matysio, and Michael Therriault. Astronauts who are stranded on a lunar mining base attempt to survive an attack by shapeshifting alien life forms. Filming was at the Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios by Regina, Saskatchewan based Minds Eye Entertainment. The film was one of the last financed by the province's cancelled film employment tax credit and was produced entirely in Saskatchewan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kill the Moon</span> 2014 Doctor Who episode

"Kill the Moon" is the seventh episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 4 October 2014. The episode was written by Peter Harness and directed by Paul Wilmshurst.

<i>Life</i> (2017 film) 2017 US science fiction horror film by Daniel Espinosa

Life is a 2017 American science fiction horror film directed by Daniel Espinosa, written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick and starring an ensemble cast consisting of Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ariyon Bakare and Olga Dihovichnaya. In the film, a six-member crew of the International Space Station uncovers the first evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars. When members of the crew conduct their research, the rapidly evolving life-form proves to be far more intelligent than expected and terrifying.

<i>Alien: Out of the Shadows</i>

Alien: Out of the Shadows is a 2014 novel written by Tim Lebbon and published by Titan Books. Set between Alien and Aliens, the book chronicles Ellen Ripley's involvement in a Xenomorph outbreak on the planet LV-178 and the mining vessel in orbit above it. The survivors' attempts to escape the creatures are further complicated by Ash, whose A.I. consciousness has survived inside Narcissus, the shuttle that brought Ripley to them.

<i>Prospect</i> (film) 2018 film by Zeek Earl and Chris Caldwell

Prospect is a 2018 American science fiction film starring Pedro Pascal, Sophie Thatcher, and Jay Duplass. The film, written and directed by Zeek Earl and Chris Caldwell, features a teenage girl named Cee (Thatcher) and her father Damon (Duplass) who land on a poisonous forest moon to mine for valuable gems. A series of betrayals, alliances, and conflicts with mercenaries and rival prospectors make their quest increasingly perilous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knull (character)</span> Marvel Comics supervillain

Knull is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with Venom and Carnage, and later retroactively established as an unseen enemy of Thor and the Silver Surfer, as he was behind Gorr the God Butcher's mission to hunt down and kill various deities, in addition to having come into conflict with the Silver Surfer via a temporal black hole through time. The character is depicted as an evil deity who created the weapon known as All-Black the Necrosword and the alien races known as the Klyntar/Symbiotes and Exolons. The character would go on to play a more important role in the Marvel Universe.

<i>Moonfall</i> (film) 2022 film by Roland Emmerich

Moonfall is a 2022 science fiction disaster film co-written, directed, and produced by Roland Emmerich. It stars Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Michael Peña, Charlie Plummer, Kelly Yu, Carolina Bartczak and Donald Sutherland. It follows two former astronauts alongside a conspiracy theorist who discover the hidden truth about Earth's moon when it suddenly leaves its orbit. Shot in Montreal on a $138–146 million budget, it is one of the most expensive independently produced films ever made.

<i>65</i> (film) 2023 American film

65 is a 2023 American science fiction film starring Adam Driver and written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. The film also stars Ariana Greenblatt and Chloe Coleman. In the film, a pilot crashes on an unknown planet and attempts to escape while surviving with a young girl.

References

  1. ↑ "Alien Arrival". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Starr, Michele (20 November 2013). "In the frame: Arrowhead's Jesse O'Brien". CNET . Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  3. 1 2 Sydney Morning Herald 4 March 2016 Arrowhead: from Sunshine to outer space, the sci-fi movie from the suburbs
  4. 1 2 Windsor, Harry (29 March 2016). "Jesse O'Brien tackles sci-fi on a dime in Coober Pedy-shot debut Arrowhead". If Magazine . Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 filmink.com.au Dov Kornits 10 June 2016 Jesse O’Brien: Straight Shooting About Arrowhead "Made in Australia for sub $200k, the science-fiction Arrowhead has sold around the world but has also taught filmmaker Jesse O’Brien a lot about what to avoid in future."
  6. ↑ Maddox, Garry (4 November 2015). "Short Cuts: director Jocelyn Moorhouse gets cracking on a powerful new romance". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  7. ↑ 12 September 2016. "Aussie Sci-Fi 'Arrowhead' sells to US, Canada" . Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "Arrowhead".
  9. ↑ Southall, J. R. "Arrowhead". Starburst . Retrieved 24 September 2017.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.