Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Alien Private Eye Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 7, 2022

Writer/director Vik Rubenfeld attempts to manufacture his own take on film noir with 1989’s “Alien Private Eye.” It’s a detective story with sci-fi touches, but the whole endeavor is trying to replicate movie classics from the 1940s, putting an investigator in the middle of a criminal mess, lured in by feminine powers while forced to fight for his life as trouble intensifies. Rubenfeld has his fandom, which offers some very light energy to the effort, but this is his moviemaking debut, and inexperience is a major issue for the picture. “Alien Private Eye” has an idea, but no real clue what to do with it, with Rubenfeld managing limited resources and wooden performances, with the stiffness of it all eventually shutting down any possible fun factor.

Lemro (David “Nico” Hill) is a private investigator in the big city, but he’s not from Earth. A former resident of the planet Styx, Lemro makes a living solving crimes for others, with his latest case involving possession of a special black disc, currently broken, capable of producing unknown power. Electra (Leeann Lee) claims the disc is an artifact from an ancient Egyptian civilization, while Scama (John Alexander) suggests the disc is a weapon of mass destruction. They both want it, hiring Lemro to find it, with his best lead Rene (Brenda Winston), a mystery woman who’s dealing with her brother’s raging addiction to Soma, a new designer drug on the street. Behind the Soma launch is Kilgore (Cliff Aduddell), a crime lord hunting for ultimate power, terrorizing the community as he also searches for the two pieces of the disc.

Lemro is a seemingly normal Earthling, dressing in fancy clothes as he tours the streets. But he’s different in many ways, hiding pointy ears, or “snicks,” under big hair and an even bigger hat, and he’s also a lethal weapon, in possession of martial arts training, which helps him to fight his way out of danger. Lemro is somewhat honorable, introduced in butt-kicking mode as he takes on half-speed thugs trying to get something out of Rene, defending the stranger before the pair retreat to a nightclub for some dancing, and sex soon follows. Lemro isn’t the sharpest mind around, but he’s the protagonist in “Alien Private Eye,” with Rubenfeld hoping to turn him into a Sam Spade-type, put into the line of fire when an issue involving the retrieval of a broken black disc is established. He’s confronted by Electra, who’s something of a femme fatale, and there’s Scama, a creeper with a Peter Lorre voice, and they both demand possession of the missing artifact.

The set-up for “Alien Private Eye” is classic noir, and Rubenfeld is clearly excited to be playing with genre traditions, creating a mystery in the black disc and the quest to find it. He has Lemro in detective mode, searching for clues, and he’s also a ladies man, taking time to bed Rene. There’s a villain in Kilgore, but he’s a creation from the 1980s, surrounded by Uzi-firing goons while paying tribute to his idol, Adolph Hitler. He also has a special gold skull attached to a front tooth, which is capable of releasing acid meant to be blown on enemies. The writing gets very specific with Kilgore, but not with anything else in “Alien Private Eye,” which quickly gets bogged down in the vague details of Soma and the saga of Rene’s brother, who’s trying to kick the apparently deadly stuff, which makes Kilgore’s lust for control of the substance bewildering. What kind of a drug dealer tries to kill his customers?

Alien Private Eye Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. Previously released on VHS, "Alien Private Eye" is offered a major upgrade for fans of the feature, with the viewing experience offering fine and film-like grain. Detail is clear, examining facial surfaces and alien appearances, and costuming is fibrous, showcasing fashion trends of the day. Street tours are dimensional, and interior decoration remains appreciable. Colors are appealingly refreshed, with nice bold primaries on clothing and lighting. Skintones are natural. More varied hues are found with street signage and club decoration. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in good condition.

Alien Private Eye Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA track secures dialogue exchanges from a wide range of actors and their abilities. Dramatic emphasis is comfortable, never slipping into distortive extremes. Scoring is simple but appreciable, supporting the action with defined synth. Soundtrack selections offer equal emphasis with period beats. Sound effects register as intended, but what's weird here is the creative choice to have the sound of howling winds piped into scenes set inside living spaces. Perhaps it's a blustery week in the big city.

Alien Private Eye Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Vik Rubenfeld.

• "Master of Suspense" (28:55, HD) is an interview with writer/director Vik Rubenfeld, who recalls his initial love of film, offered guidance from his cineaste father at a young age. Eventually making his way to NYU, Rubenfeld was careful with his ideas, spending years on a concept concerning the life of John Truby. Interested in making a noir film, "Alien Private Eye" was born, and the interviewee goes into the specifics of casting and technical credits, offering pride in the feature, which was completed for $250,000, managing to turn a profit. The shoot was a learning experience for Rubenfeld, who shares many anecdotes about his time on the set, dealing with others, making a few beginner mistakes along the way. He closes with a lengthy explanation of his time on the show "Early Edition," which he created, and routinely plugs his online course on the shaping of suspense, offering his services to fellow writers.

• "Mister Lemro" (15:08, HD) is an interview with actor David "Nico" Hill, who shares information about his troubled upbringing, working on his martial arts career while showing interest in acting. Finding an ad for "Alien Private Eye," Hill decided to try out for the lead role, getting the gig with zero acting experience. Hill shares his first impression of the movie, which wasn't positive, but it did kickstart his acting career, which ended due to substance abuse issues. 13 years sober and now a minister, the interviewee shares his story of growth and empowerment, eventually joined by his wife, Victoria.

• "Fashion Show Film Noir" (9:53, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Jurg V. Walther, who details his years studying art in Switzerland, gathering knowledge of the masters. Impressions of Vik Rubenfeld are shared, working with the director to find the look of the feature. More technically minded, Walther admits he had no idea what he was making with "Alien Private Eye," also revealing he's never seen the finished movie. However, he does appreciate the lessons of frugality and speed the shoot offered to him, sharing his feelings about the use of superfluous takes.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Alien Private Eye Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Alien Private Eye" has a few distractions, including car chases and fight scenes, but even at 96 minutes, the feature is still 20 minutes too long. Rubenfeld isn't seasoned enough to bring any tension to the endeavor, and his casting instincts fail him, finding Hill visibly nervous and stiff in his acting debut. Sci-fi additions aren't a priority for the picture, which is a shame, as there's a slight "Alien Nation" tone to the movie in need of development. This leaves viewers with a noir tribute that has difficulty getting going, frequently fumbling with low-budget limitations. It's earnest work from Rubenfeld, but not overall effective.