“Let’s put it this way: Either way this works out, it’s gonna be on the wrong side of history.” —General James Ford
Today’s quick review: Cosmic Sin. In the year 2524, humanity makes first contact with an alien race. General James Ford (Bruce Willis), the man who destroyed an entire planet to put down a rebellion, is called out of retirement by General Ryle (Frank Grillo) to help handle the situation. As contact with the aliens rapidly turns hostile, the generals lead a strike force to deliver a bomb capable of wiping out the aliens in one fell swoop.
Cosmic Sin is a budget sci-fi movie about a hostile encounter with alien life. Humanity faces a battle for survival against a parasitic alien species that can infect anyone they come in contact with. What follows is a haphazard attempt to launch a decisive first strike against the aliens before they can gain the upper hand. Cosmic Sin has a workable premise but executes it poorly, with weak action, a muddled plot, and few redeeming qualities.
Cosmic Sin suffers from a lot of the usual problems that plague budget science fiction films. The setting is generic, fleshed out just enough to tell the story but no more. The script does a poor job of conveying the points it needs to, such as introducing characters or properly establishing the parameters of the conflict. And, unlike bigger-budget offerings, Cosmic Sin does not have flashy special effects or powerful acting to fall back on.
More specifically, Cosmic Sin wastes a fairly distinctive premise. The war with aliens is not new, but the early parts of the movie set up a moral conflict where two bloodthirsty generals are poised to wipe out an entire civilization without any attempt at diplomacy. The setup is clumsy, however, and the movie explicitly avoids making any sort of real moral commentary by making the aliens a hostile, unavoidable threat.
Cosmic Sin is a mishmash of generic science fiction and underdeveloped ideas. Fans of the budget side of the genre may get something out of it just for going through the motions with basic competence, but the vast majority of viewers will find it unsatisfying. Try it out only if you want some action and are not too particular about the quality. Steer clear if you are looking for an impressive spectacle or a robust plot.
For a similar flavor of budget science fiction, try Alien Arrival, Dune Drifter, Survivor, or Incoming. For more entertaining science fiction in the same vein, try Pitch Black and its sequels, Edge of Tomorrow, or Aliens.
[2.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11762434/). I give it a 3.5 for lackluster action and a poorly motivated plot.