Forgotten Films: Under the Mountain (2009)
This is the 30th in my series of Forgotten Obscure or Neglected Films
So, last week I discussed a Bollywood superhero film. This week, I will continue with a foreign film, though this hails from New Zealand. UNDER THE MOUNTAIN totally escaped my radar when it was released. I’m pretty sure it did not play in San Antonio and I caught it only because Willie Siros told me to check it out on Showtime.
And I’m glad I did. It is the story of a pair of twins – Theo (Tom Cameron) and Rachel (Sophie McBride) who have been sent to live with their aunt and uncle following the death of their mother. While roaming around with their cousin Ricky, they encounter an odd fellow named Mr. Smith (Sam Neill who still has that wicked OMEN smile). Mr. Smith is an alien trying to stop another alien race from destroying the Earth. Nothing unusual there. To stop them he needs a pair of linked twins to throw some enchanted rocks into a volcano simultaneously. Oh, the bad aliens, called the Wilberforces, will be trying to stop/kill them. Previous pairs of twins have tried and failed. Smith is at the end of his powers and fears using them because he might perish in the effort.
Theo is hardheaded and when he discovers his powers feels that he does not need Smith or Rachel to accomplish the deed (never mind how he is planning to be two people throwing enchanted stones at the same time). His fists burn his flames and power so, being a teenager, he is invincible. Amazingly, he is wrong and eventually it takes two to destroy the aliens.
The special effects are by the WETA Studios and they are good, nothing like LORD OF THE RINGS but this is a much lower budget film. It will not set the world on fire, but I enjoyed the film and you may also. Check out Netflix or Showtime Beyond for a copy.
Series organizer Todd Mason hosts more Tuesday Forgotten Film reviews at his own blog and posts a complete list of participating blogs.
