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Aliens Rain Fire, Romance and Beach Vibes in Sci-Fi Comedy 'Higher Grounds'
Friday, June 9, 2023 at 7:23PM If you want a good laugh and enjoy Sci-Fi comedy films with a retro twist, Higher Grounds has arrived just in time for summer! It’s a 16-minute extraterrestrial adventure about Ralff, one slacker alien who comes to destroy earth with his fellow “field drone,” Razzorakk.
Soon they find themselves sidetracked by gastrointestinal issues, a supply shortage and a mob of people who think they are generous visitors here to save the planet from rising temperatures. The biggest distraction of all, however, is Ralff’s quest to hook up with the hot café barista, Cleo. Suddenly, our survival depends on whether this space-schmuck can get her number, before his plucky partner blows us sky high.
Written by Joe Kramer (who also directed this film) and Christian Sarkis Graham, Higher Grounds is set in Philadelphia on a typical Saturday for working Americans. That is, most working Americans except Julie, another café barista who takes advantage of a parking situation that leaves Cleo stuck at the café on her only day off – putting a dent in her plans to get a nice tan at the beach.
It doesn't take long for Ralff to believe he's a “Gracious God” based on little more than speculative propaganda distributed by local news reporters, TV broadcasts and a growing crowd of neighbors who put him on a pedestal. Ralff takes things a step further by deciding it was destined for him to come to earth at this particular time, and be at this particular location.
It’s nuts how misinformation and propaganda spreads like a viral disease when people refuse to do their own due diligence to understand what's happening around them, why it's happening, and what they can do about it. This leads to group thinking, which can often take a destructive turn when people believe things just because they heard it on the news or because it's the norm in their culture or locale.
As the plot in Higher Grounds illustrates, this is hard to do when your Mayor, NASA and other leaders share false narratives while the local media gives them a platform to do so, thus perpetuating the nonsense. It's alarming to not be able to trust many, if not all, of the sources of information we have come to rely on for news, exploratory findings and leadership.
The good news is the first act sets you up for a funny ride through a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon that is, like Cleo, easy on the eyes. Kudos to director Joe Kramer and cinematographer Daniel Brennan on the great shots. It's really a treat to see a film that delivers all sorts of angles that make the story even more visually pleasing.
Speaking of storylines, there seems to be two that intersect throughout Higher Grounds in a surprisingly organic way. That is, if running into aliens on a mission to destroy the planet is business as usual for you. Much like the annoying traffic and parking headaches that motorists and SEPTA bus riders often experience in center city, South Philly is notorious for its parking issues. So, those who live in or nearby Philadelphia can relate to the parking headaches that sometimes turn into a life altering ordeal.
Sprinkled with funny lines that have great timing, Higher Grounds, also has some likeable characters to root for and others that remind you of people you’ve met that make your life hell. You know, that co-worker who calls out at the last minute or doesn’t do their job so you end up taking on their responsibilities. Some quips in the film, like the Elroy Jetson reference, might fly over your head depending on how in tune you are with pop culture and your age.
I appreciate the hustle of the café owner, Gus, who believes its fate that aliens have come to earth to keep the lights on. Gus’s humorous attempt to save his small business by advertising the café during a viral scene in the film shows how he’s willing to act quickly and take advantage of good opportunities that may be available -- even in a crisis.
Cleo’s desperate attempt at a staycation using what she has available in the workplace is hilarious. There seems to be a longing and desperation that permeates through the mindset and behaviors of some of the characters in this film. Desperate to be liked. Desperate to escape from work or debt. Desperate for answers and acts of God. Cleo just wants to go to the beach. Ralff just wants to get her number. Razzorakk just wants to find a bathroom and Gus just wants someone to work the Cuisinart so he can capitalize on all this foot traffic from the alien visitors. The people in the community, at least on the surface it seems, just want cooler temperatures and fresh air. Then, there’s the litter that tells a different story.
If you’ve been a longtime reader of this blog, you already know that littering is one of my pet peeves. As someone who participated in Blog Action Day and supports several causes addressing issues such as pollution, access to clean water and disaster relief, I was aggravated by the way some characters in Higher Grounds were single-handedly and collectively destroying the quality of life in their own environment while looking for an external solution at the same time. They're so fixated on a foreign invasion of "Gracious Gods" that they aren't looking at what they can do themselves to save the planet from extinction.
You might also recognize actor John O’Hurley, best known for his role on the TV sitcom, Seinfeld, as the alien commander who sends Ralff and Razzorakk on a mission to actually “roast the planet” in Higher Grounds. As these alien foot soldiers prepare to “rain fire on all of these women and children,” I was bothered by the way that killing only seemed morally wrong when women and children are involved.
There's a brutal grocery store scene that highlights the differences in Ralff’s moral compass when it comes to him questioning his job duties, which led to me liking him less. I mean, there are men on planet earth too and they shouldn't die just because the half naked female human you're chasing is "easy on the eyes."
Higher Grounds is a quick, slice of life weekend adventure that had me rooting for the aliens in some scenes. Well, except of course for that grocery store scene. That one made me mad at Ralff along with the times when he’s so wrapped up in his own world that he’s oblivious to the needs of other people and that of what’s really going on around him.
I loved the song "Last Train to San Fernando" in this film, along with Higher Grounds' composer Randy Sutin's musical score in general. The "Last Train to San Fernando" tune lends itself to the timely message that I took away from watching it, which is that you must make the most of the time you have on this earth because it will be over -- whether by natural, extraterrestrial or man made disasters -- before you know it!
The film also gives you some of the explosive and stylized elements that you would anticipate in a summer blockbuster, with local charm. In the midst of the frenzy surrounding the arrival of visitors from outer space, Higher Grounds is full of underlying tones reflecting global and societal issues. In 2022, the film was nominated for an Audience Award at the Raindance Film Festival satellite event, the Japan Indies Film Festival. It also screened in the Coney Island Film Festival in early May.
If you're local in the Tri-State area, or up for a day trip to New Jersey -- a popular destination for tons of people who enjoy their summer at the shores in this coastal area; just sayin.... -- Higher Grounds is showing this weekend on Sunday, June 11th at the LBI Historical Association Museum during the Lighthouse International Film Festival.
You can also stream the film here from the comfort of your home, at the office during your lunch hour or while stuck on a side street sitting behind a double-parked car. This short film made my day and just might do the same for you!
