Watch Alien Encounters at Loch Ness

Alien Encounters at Loch Ness ultimately plays out like the kind of B-movie that you might see in a late night lineup on a cable network. From the get-go, this movie is pretty clear about what audience it's gunning for. The plot follows three adventurers - Paul, Michael, and Karen - as they set out to explore the mythic terrain surrounding Loch Ness. Paul and Michael are skeptical of the creature's existence and are hoping to debunk the monster mythos. Karen, on the other hand, is a true believer.

The trio charts out a course along the Scottish countryside, with Paul and Michael constantly bickering about how impossible it is for a creature like the Loch Ness Monster to even exist. Unsurprisingly, this tension comes to a boil when they arrive at their destination. Sure enough, they begin to see evidence of something lurking in the depths of the water. And when they set out to explore the lake's hidden caverns, they discover something far more insidious than they ever could have imagined.

For a movie called Alien Encounters at Loch Ness, it's not much of a stretch to guess what the group stumbles upon. Sure enough, they are soon up close and personal with a group of extraterrestrial beings who have somehow taken up residence in the Scottish lake. There are, of course, the requisite government agents who are hot on the trail of these aliens as well, leading to a tense finale that plays out like something straight out of The X-Files.

At its best, the film is fully aware of its limitations and embraces its cheesy, B-movie roots. There are moments of solid tension and some surprisingly impressive special effects on display here. And while it's hardly groundbreaking, there's something to be said for a movie committed to the idea of clocking in at a lean 70-odd minutes and delivering on its premise as efficiently as possible.

The performances are mostly what you'd expect from a film of this caliber. Paul Hughes is the standout as Paul, the gruff skeptic who slowly begins to realize how little he knows about the world around him. His chemistry with Michael Pennyworth, who plays the more lighthearted and jokey Michael, is a definite highlight. As for Karen, played by Sheila Pye, she's given little to do beyond being the naive optimist who blindly believes in the existence of the monster. And while she's likable enough, it's a frustratingly one-note portrayal.

Perhaps the biggest issue with the film is how little it does to separate itself from other similarly themed movies. Alien Encounters at Loch Ness feels like the kind of film that's been done to death by this point, and while it has its moments, it's hard to shake the feeling that you've seen this all before. The story is formulaic, the characters are archetypical, and despite some flashy set pieces, the look of the film feels like it could have been pulled from any number of cheap straight-to-video sci-fi flicks.

Still, it's hard to deny that some of the set pieces are genuinely well executed. And while the film doesn't quite craft a clear identity, it's entertaining enough. Alien Encounters at Loch Ness is, at its core, the kind of movie that feels perfect for a lazy afternoon spent lounging on the couch with a bag of popcorn. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it delivers enough thrills to make it worth a watch.

Alien Encounters at Loch Ness is a 2014 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 2 minutes.