Red Sands (2009)

Directed by Alex Turner [Other horror films: Dead Birds (2004)]

It’s been a good eight years since I’ve seen Red Sands, and I have to say, I was quite looking forward to revisiting this one. I don’t remember it being all that good, but I always thought the plot had potential, and seeing it again, I can say that when it comes down to it, the movie’s at best okay.

Part of the issue, I think, is that there’s a bit of build-up before anything happens that’s all that exciting. In some ways, this may have been necessary, as we’re given seven characters who are all quite similar, so we need some time to learn a bit about them, but at the same time, it’s still a bit of a drag early on.

One thing I think this movie has going for it is that the plot is quite unique, dealing with soldiers over in Afghanistan who run amok of a Djinn in a remote, isolated farmhouse. The location is quite beautiful and sparse, and seeing soldiers deal with a situation like this isn’t overly common (I always thought military-themed horror was under-utilized, and, as a matter of fact, so are Djinn-themed films). It’s a fun idea, and they do get some things right, but the overall execution isn’t the best.

It did take a little while for any of the performances to stand out. After a bit, though, I was enjoying Callum Blue, Aldis Hodge, and Leonard Roberts. Shane West, despite being the focus, wasn’t really that fleshed out, and while Mercedes Mason (Quarantine 2: Terminal) was a nice change of pace, she also didn’t have that much going for her (which, to be fair, was sort of the point). Though he only gets a few scenes, we also get some J.K. Simmons, who gives a bit of funny dialogue at times.

Brendan Miller played a rather horrible character (he casually suggests gang-raping an Islamic woman seeking shelter from a sandstorm – you know, because she wouldn’t have anyone to tell, and that makes rape okay). Given that sexual abuse of prisoners of war isn’t at all unheard of by the US military (looking at pictures of the abuse and torture prisoners faced in Abu Ghraib prison should make everyone second guess supporting the troops), having a character with a similar mindset, while sickening, is at least accurate.

The special effects mostly show up toward the finale, and they’re not great. I think more than the effects or gore, the film relies on the growing tension around the isolated farmhouse, as some of the soldiers are more and more concerned their staff sergeant may not be in the best mindset. It’s okay as far as the tension goes, but we only know so much about these characters, and while some are decent, it’s hard to really care for any of them (especially given they’re invading another country to begin with).

Red Sands is a film I wish was a bit better. In truth, it’s not a terrible time – it’s below average, but not disastrously so. Even so, it’s a movie with only so much rewatchability, and I suspect many who spend a night with it won’t be going back to it any time soon afterwards, if they even happen to remember it.

6/10