In the same vein as Attack the Block and Infested comes Michael Middelkoop’s Dutch sci-fi comedy Straight Outta Space. It’s another genre ode to the underprivileged and cast aside, more relevant than ever in today’s billionaire’s club society. Admittedly, Straight Outta Space doesn’t blast into gear like either of the prior mentioned comparisons. Middelkoop’s goofy alien thriller is scrappy in its extraterrestrial representations, going Invasion of the Body Snatchers with a The World’s End vibe. All those favorable comparisons trounce Middelkoop’s execution, but don’t count this watchable sociopolitical vomitron out for some passable entertainment.
The film’s original name, Straatcoaches vs Aliens, refers to best friends Amin (Shahine El-Hamus) and Mitchell (Daniël Kolf). They patrol Schijndrecht, an affordable housing community, as “street coaches” who keep the neighborhood clean and provide aid—but they’re not law enforcement. Amin and Mitchell waste their days away in Schijndrecht, but the Weiland corporation has plans to turn their humble “hood” into the next deluxe apartment complex. That’s until an alien lifeform interrupts construction, spreading a hivemind-like infection that threatens the globe.
Thematically, Straight Outta Space earns applause for its mockery of the ruling class. Middelkoop, Daan Bakker, and Nico van den Brink take every shot imaginable in their screenplay, from attention-seeking police officers who stream their takedowns to a Prime Minister who doesn’t think twice about calling in missile strikes on her citizens. As Amin and Mitchell rally the undesired population of Schijndrecht who weren’t deemed worthy of evacuation, there’s a sweet “community saves itself” plotline that stands on action. Government suits might as well be in a Troma movie, the way they only value the lives of faithful voters and elitist donors. Kudos to storytellers who are no longer tolerating appointed officials who are saying the quiet part out loud.
That said, Straight Outta Space is a simplistic rendition of genre-themed protest. Don’t expect much alien excitement because the patient zero that crash lands on Earth is hidden outside a slithery tentacle in the cold open and the climax’s reveal. Otherwise, infected victims puke dark blue bile to increase the ranks of threats. They’re distracted by food and hardly aggressive, which feels a bit like Shaun of the Dead as survivors dart around and past possessed minions to their desired location. Then the antidote is discovered, which removes even more tension given how neatly it wraps a bow on everything (think Grabbers, but instead of booze it’s [redacted]): no mean streak, no pulse-pounding attack sequences, just goofy goobers trying to save themselves.
Middelkoop makes the movie he can. Straight Outta Space might not be the nastiest or flashiest dose of science fiction, but its heart is in the right place. The underdog charms of Amin’s trying-to-do-better boyfriend and Mitchell, his excitable and snacky best friend, share a “boys from the block” bond that’s humorous—especially with Sinem Kavus’ philosophical and straight-faced Panter in the mix. It’s your typical “stoner buddies take on the apocalypse” blueprint, and there’s nothing special about what happens, but I’ll borrow a phrase I’ve used recently, and say once again, “fun enough” is still fun. Between the roving gang of youths with produce launchers, low-hanging but steady comedic yucks, and a “screw you” attitude toward authority, there is, indeed, enough.
Straight Outta Space isn’t broadcasting new messages about damning the man, yet stays tuned to the right frequency. Middelkoop doesn’t live up to either Edgar Wright’s or Joe Cornish’s pedigree, which delivers a more mundane genre hybrid. You won’t be overwhelmed by terrifying alien imagery or busting a gut at slacker-lazy jokes, yet there’s still value to Schijndrecht’s close encounters of the goopy kind. It’s lighthearted and unpretentious, albeit underwhelming by horror terms—but still gives you an inspired cause to root for.
Movie Score: 3/5
