Oren Peli has not directed a film since the first PARANORMAL ACTIVITY in 2007. He has produced and written several projects in the last 8 years, but AREA 51 is his first directorial effort since his breakout found footage hit. Using the same style, AREA 51 tells another horror story but this time it is not ghosts that pose the supernatural threat. As the title implies, AREA 51 will focus on a group of friens who mess with the wrong extraterrestrial.
The film follows Reid, who has always been obsessed with UFOs. While on a weekend trip to Vegas, he convinces two friends to join him on a mission to break into Area 51, where they find terrifying proof of alien presence.
AREA 51 has been in production for years with reshoots stretching back to 2013. To celebrate the movie finally getting a release, The Alamo Drafthouse will be holding special screenings of the film beginning Friday, May 15th and run through Sunday, May 17th with one showtime daily. Tickets are on sale online and at participating Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas box offices beginning Monday, May 11th.
I am getting tired of the found footage style of movie-making but I have to say that AREA 51 at least looks intriguing. CHRONICLE proved that horror was not the only genre that works in found footage and EARTH TO ECHO successfully made a scifi film in the format. While this does look closer to PARANORMAL ACTIVITY than either of those films, I am willing to give it a shot.
AREA 51 opens in theaters and on demand on May 15th.