This movie is a great idea with a very sloppy execution. As many others have mentioned, the aliens being able to read human bioelectricity and generating electricity is a pretty unique concept and I was delighted to see a new approach to the alien invasion genre. However, its creativite energy is nearly entirely muffled with stupid plot conveniences, poor acting, and plot holes.
Although I really enjoyed the concept, I felt that the rules about how the aliens behaved (and who, by the way, are never given a name or anything) were never consistent. Apparently, they couldn't see human bioelectricity through glass, which the main characters use to their advantage when they hide from the aliens in the mall. However, one of the aliens can see the three girls when they are searching for supplies through the glass windows of the apartment complex? It also seemed like they modified the aliens' behavior midway through the movie for no reason other than dramatic effect. In the beginning, people seemed to disintegrate with only slight physical contact with the aliens. Yet later on, the aliens could grab onto people and drag them around (which seemed to only happen with our main characters, of course). The inconsistent behavior of our antagonists ruins their credibility within the universe and is an utterly lazy oversight on behalf of the director and writers.
The main characters are even more one-dimensional and idiotic. You are expected to believe that they are smart enough to have survived while millions others perished, because... why? They take so many unnecessary risks that put them into so much danger when they could just not? The Swedish guy was apparently the irrational one for questioning the absurdity of their decisions. For example, why did the blonde girl choose not to trust Vika on where to hide when she clearly did not know the apartment complex? There is no reason for her not to. Why do they so blindly trust the nuclear submarine prospect? Where do they think it will take them? You have found a safe community, and you don't even want to entertain the idea of maybe staying there?
And there is really not indication of their predicament on their outward appearance. They're not grungy or raggedy or sweaty or even a little bit disheveled. They're not even a little bit thirsty or hungry, even. They're all perfect-looking and they even take some time to change into a fashionable outfit (which was such a wasted opportunity for some realism). Combined with the actors' terrible acting and the attempted "jokes", this makes any type of meaningful connection with the characters impossible. I didn't care about them. I didn't even know their names by the end of the movie (except for Natalie's). The deaths of some of the more central characters are done abruptly, without even a modicum of gravity to communicate their importance. They die, and the film moves on because it was just an excuse to create a little drama.
Overall, the plot is bland. Aliens invade, they fight to survive, they find some people, people die, etc. With such an interesting concept, you would think the plot would've maybe focused more on creating a little more depth to these characters? Maybe fleshing out the aliens a bit, maybe even giving them a name? Nope. Every character is introduced and then you just watch them do things. The most interesting character was the Russian guy on a horse. And the cat.
One last thing that really peeved me, which is more of a personal pet peeve than an actual movie flaw, is that yes, this film is set in Russia. You may ask, what does this add to the story? And the answer is nothing. This film could have been set in Germany and nothing would have changed. There is no reason to keep emphasizing that they are in Russia. "Oh, but what about the language barrier?" Nope. Half of the Russian characters they meet speak English, and the only tiny bit of struggle they have regarding a language barrier is trying to translate a Russian radio transmission, which is solved in less than 10 minutes of movie time. It is a redundant piece of information that is continuously emphasized for NO reason. But some people might not care about this, so I don't exactly blame the movie for it.
Overall, I had high expectations for this movie and was disappointed but this is just my opinion. My partner did enjoy this film so if you enjoy it, more power to you.
Although I really enjoyed the concept, I felt that the rules about how the aliens behaved (and who, by the way, are never given a name or anything) were never consistent. Apparently, they couldn't see human bioelectricity through glass, which the main characters use to their advantage when they hide from the aliens in the mall. However, one of the aliens can see the three girls when they are searching for supplies through the glass windows of the apartment complex? It also seemed like they modified the aliens' behavior midway through the movie for no reason other than dramatic effect. In the beginning, people seemed to disintegrate with only slight physical contact with the aliens. Yet later on, the aliens could grab onto people and drag them around (which seemed to only happen with our main characters, of course). The inconsistent behavior of our antagonists ruins their credibility within the universe and is an utterly lazy oversight on behalf of the director and writers.
The main characters are even more one-dimensional and idiotic. You are expected to believe that they are smart enough to have survived while millions others perished, because... why? They take so many unnecessary risks that put them into so much danger when they could just not? The Swedish guy was apparently the irrational one for questioning the absurdity of their decisions. For example, why did the blonde girl choose not to trust Vika on where to hide when she clearly did not know the apartment complex? There is no reason for her not to. Why do they so blindly trust the nuclear submarine prospect? Where do they think it will take them? You have found a safe community, and you don't even want to entertain the idea of maybe staying there?
And there is really not indication of their predicament on their outward appearance. They're not grungy or raggedy or sweaty or even a little bit disheveled. They're not even a little bit thirsty or hungry, even. They're all perfect-looking and they even take some time to change into a fashionable outfit (which was such a wasted opportunity for some realism). Combined with the actors' terrible acting and the attempted "jokes", this makes any type of meaningful connection with the characters impossible. I didn't care about them. I didn't even know their names by the end of the movie (except for Natalie's). The deaths of some of the more central characters are done abruptly, without even a modicum of gravity to communicate their importance. They die, and the film moves on because it was just an excuse to create a little drama.
Overall, the plot is bland. Aliens invade, they fight to survive, they find some people, people die, etc. With such an interesting concept, you would think the plot would've maybe focused more on creating a little more depth to these characters? Maybe fleshing out the aliens a bit, maybe even giving them a name? Nope. Every character is introduced and then you just watch them do things. The most interesting character was the Russian guy on a horse. And the cat.
One last thing that really peeved me, which is more of a personal pet peeve than an actual movie flaw, is that yes, this film is set in Russia. You may ask, what does this add to the story? And the answer is nothing. This film could have been set in Germany and nothing would have changed. There is no reason to keep emphasizing that they are in Russia. "Oh, but what about the language barrier?" Nope. Half of the Russian characters they meet speak English, and the only tiny bit of struggle they have regarding a language barrier is trying to translate a Russian radio transmission, which is solved in less than 10 minutes of movie time. It is a redundant piece of information that is continuously emphasized for NO reason. But some people might not care about this, so I don't exactly blame the movie for it.
Overall, I had high expectations for this movie and was disappointed but this is just my opinion. My partner did enjoy this film so if you enjoy it, more power to you.