Apocalypse Rising (2018)

Streaming Service: Paramount+
Movie Name/Year: Apocalypse Rising (2018)
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Length: 83 minutes
Rating: TV-MA
Production/Distribution: Giant Meteor Films, Rathe Productions, Gravitas Ventures
Director: Richard Lowry
Writer:  Gregory P. Wolk
Actors: Hunter Alexes Parker, Shane Samples, Justin Lebrun, Johanna Rae, Victoria Steadman, James R. Frey, Kelly Brown, Shiah Luna, David Namminga, Ketalyn Levario, Dennis Marin, John R. Mangus
 
Blurb from IMDb: They came from a doomed world to save us from the same fate.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
Apocalypse Rising is a low-budget B-movie, so I’ll be comparing it only to other films like it. Fish can’t climb trees, after all.
 
The thing that drew me to this movie was the plot. The mix of undead horror and hard sci-fi, at least in this context, is not something I’ve ever seen before. Aliens coming from a warring planet only to find Earth in the process of starting a zombie apocalypse? I knew it was risky, but I was so here for the idea.
 
What makes a B-movie good is not necessarily quality. It’s when the flick is fun to watch. Either because it’s over-the-top ridiculous – like Sharknado (2013), super relatable to at least one group – like The Gamers: Dorkness Rising (2008), accidentally funny – like The Wicker Man (2006), or because it’s so bad it’s good – like The VelociPastor (2018). Are any of them the kind that people would spend 20 bucks to see in theaters? Of course not. But they make for good watching with a group of friends and a bucket of popcorn.
 

Luckily, Apocalypse Rising didn’t take itself too seriously. I found it watchable, actually. It could have been as good as Starship Troopers (1997), but there were a few missteps. The most glaring of which was the sex scenes. I could have done with about 87 less of them. It might have made the flick come in at just around an hour long, but it also would have wound up being good enough to have that possibility of cult status.
 
I do believe that Apocalypse Rising dips a toe into the ‘so bad it’s good’ category. It walks the line a little closer than I’d prefer, but I don’t regret watching it. I did have some fun.
 
It’s absolutely not for everyone. As mentioned, there are WAY too many sex scenes (even if they are more parody than porn), there’s a lot of over-the-top acting, and one-note characters. If I was comparing Apocalypse Rising to a bigger film, it would not make the cut. For what it is, however… it was a lot better than most. It had a decent story, and I liked the ending. It was unique.
 
Apocalypse Rising could make for some funny watching for a friends-night-in or a zoom-movie-call. Just make sure to bring your sense of humor. Don’t take it too seriously.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 4.4/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3/5
 
Movie Trailer: