The Item
The Item

Movie spotlight

The Item

1999
Movie
100 min
English

Four felons are contacted by an anonymous client via the internet. They are instructed to go to a remote desert island and pick up an "item" and keep it safe for 24 hours. It will then be picked up and they will be paid. However, upon getting it back to their apartment, their curiosity gets the better of them and they decide to investigate their package. They discover that they have a telepathic worm connected to a life support system. The film then disintegrates into a slasher film as one by one the protectors are killed in grisly fashion.

Insights

IMDb4.5/10
Director: David GiancolaGenres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Plot Summary

A scientific experiment gone awry unleashes a parasitic extraterrestrial entity onto a remote community. The organism possesses its victims, transforming them into aggressive, deadly beings. A group of survivors must band together to fight for their lives and find a way to stop the alien threat before it consumes them all.

Critical Reception

The Item received a generally negative reception from critics, who often cited its low budget, derivative plot, and uninspired special effects. Audience reception was also lukewarm, with some B-movie enthusiasts appreciating its earnest attempts at horror and sci-fi elements, while others found it to be a forgettable entry in the genre.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film struggles with a predictable narrative and relies heavily on clichés.

  • Special effects are rudimentary and detract from the overall viewing experience.

  • Despite its flaws, some may find a B-movie charm in its straightforward horror approach.

Google audience: Google user reviews are scarce and generally reflect the critical consensus, with many users pointing to the film's low budget and unoriginality as major drawbacks. Some commenters acknowledged the effort made by the independent production but ultimately found it lacking in execution.

Fun Fact

Director David Giancola would later go on to direct other independent genre films, often working with smaller budgets and crews.

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