‘They are coming’
Fighting the Sky is a 2018 American science-fiction film produced and directed by Conrad Faraj (The Brave Souls Who Fought Against the Slave Vampire Women; The Shadow People) from a screenplay co-written with David Matthew Cummings and Roger Jones. The Conrad Studios production stars Angela Cole, Roger Conners and Jinette Faraj.
Plot:
Strange other-worldly sounds are echoing around the world. A group of researchers, led by expert ufologist Lorraine Gardner, begin an expedition to track down the point of origin from which the sounds emerge. Yet as their journey deepens, they begin to discover more than they bargained for…
Release:
Fighting the Sky invadeed digital and DVD on February 5, 2019, via High Octane Pictures.
Review:
A dozen missing people reappear, claiming they were abducted by aliens. A small town is plagued by strange noises, and a group of amateur Ufologists investigate. These are the starting points of Fighting the Sky, the new film from Conrad Faraj. Despite a rather long list of credits, this is the first time I’ve crossed paths with one of his films.
Lorraine (Angela Cole) comes back home after being away for a year. The UFO investigators she used to work with ask her to rejoin them to explore the strange noises being heard in the atmosphere. Things become real interesting when she takes part in an interview with one of the reappeared missing people who claims to be from 2076. As she conducts her investigation, two sisters Valerie (Jinette Faraj) and Rosie (Judith A. Faraj) are conducting a much more amateur one of their own.
The first part of the film plays like an episode of The X Files. Lots of investigation and the occasional burst of odd activity. Once the aliens make themselves known around the film’s midpoint, however, it becomes a fight for survival.
Despite its poster imagery, Fighting the Sky makes a wise choice and works within its budget. While we hear of global occurrences, (they even give Saskatoon a mention), the film wisely focuses on a much smaller slice of the invasion. By not overreaching it can effectively tell its story. See Battalion for what happens when you try to do otherwise.
For an obviously low budget film, Fighting the Sky has some very good effects. Corey McCauley (Don’t Kill It; Tusk) and Ron George (In Guns We Trust; Vile Prey)deliver some excellent alien crafts and creature suits. Some of the CGI fire effects leave something to be desired, however. Thankfully there’s not a lot of scenes of destruction. Faraj wisely shows just enough to give you the idea of what’s going on. Then he moves the story out into the woods and lets the cast deal with the aliens face to face.
With a plot that moves fast enough things don’t drag and solid effects Fighting the Sky isn’t anything game-changing, however, it’s a good bet for an evening’s entertainment. Bonus points for an ending that, while making perfect sense, I didn’t see coming.
Jim Morazzini, guest reviewer via Voices from the Balcony
Other reviews:
“What really saves Fighting the Sky is the digital effects, the alien design, and the cinematic scores. Plus, there’s a scene depicted in another decade and that takes great set design and effort. All four of these departments put Fighting the Sky in a different class of indie films, one that’s a step or two above the rest.” Horror Society
Cast and characters:
Angela Cole … Lorraine Gardner – The Black Room
Roger Conners … Roy Shaw
Jinette Faraj … Valerie Paz
Judith A. Faraj … Rosie Paz
Alison Headrick … Ava Williams
Matthew Ward … Richard Hooper
Nicole Ann Hicks … Teri Benchley
Logan Roberts … Ian Kelly
Larry Cahill … Bob Welder
Brianna Burke … Skylar Lang
Joe Gotschall … Robert Neary
Bailey Weaver … Zoey Finner
Theresa Wylie … Miss Deming
Ed Conrad … Mr Vaughn
Sean Keta … Buddy
Rachel Anderson … Ms Duvall
Steven Farris … Steven Farris
Douglas Slygh … Police Chief
Lauren Paulis … Hot Girl at Party
Alexa Lyn Tucker … Nurse
Mable Howard Brown … Bus Driver
Filming locations:
Avon, Lakewood, Mentor and Shelby, Ohio
Trailer:
Full film free to watch online:
