DVD Review: Invasion! aka Top Of The Food Chain (A-)

Invasion! (aka Top of the Food Chain) (1999)
Directed by John Paizs
Starring Campbell Scott, Fiona Loewi, Tom Everett Scott, James Allodi and Bernard Behrens
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: A-

Review by Bobby Nashville

My wife found this gem of a bad movie (bless her heart) and it serves as further proof that I picked the right woman. I've commented several times before about how hard it is to intentially make a good "bad" movie but Invasion! makes it look easy. Never heard of this one? This was released under the title Top of the Food Chain back in 1999 but for the video release it's being renamed Invasion!

The plot of Invasion! is a simple rehash of every stupid sci-fi flick you loved from the 50's: While visiting a small town in Canada called Exceptional Vista, eccentric atomic scientist Dr. Karel Lamonte stumbles upon a mystery involving aliens that like to devour human flesh. The prettiest gal in town is smitten with Dr. Karel, but also has an unhealthy relationship with her brother. The town is like a deserted Twin Peaks with a shut down nut factory (literally), a police chief that likes to cuff and spank his detainees, and constant references to "the hilly, lumpy bumpy part of town outside of town". The dialogue is silly, witty and right on target. Invasion! is damn funny.

The amazing thing about Invasion! (or Top of the Food Chain) is how well it works as a tongue in cheek parody of sci-fi classics with such a low budget. Big budget attempts like Eight Legged Freaks and Mars Attacks have tried and failed miserably, when all along, all they had to do was tighten the dialogue and keep the dark comedy dark. Don't worry Hollywood, we can handle it!

Invasion! is one of the funniest "so bad it's good" movies I have seen in along time.

Buy Invasion! On DVD From Amazon