Breach (2020)

Directed by: John Suits | 92 minutes | action, science fiction | Actors: Cody Kearsley, Bruce Willis, Rachel Nichols, Kassandra Clementi, Johnny Messner, Corey Large, Callan Mulvey, Timothy V. Murphy, Johann Urb, Ralf Moeller, Alexander Kane, Angie Pack, Van Ayasit, Swen Temmel, Adam Huel Potter, Thomas Jane, Everly Large, Eric Buarque

When James Cameron unleashed ‘Aliens’ on the world in 1986, he probably didn’t see what his action movie would bring about. More than three decades later, this sci-fi testosterone bomb still serves as a source of inspiration for countless directors. John Suits has often looked at Cameron’s masterpiece and rather ostentatiously tries to copy the master’s work. It’s okay to cheat, because better stolen well than badly conceived. Unfortunately, ‘Breach’ is a rather lazy attempt to pick up on a classic. In addition to ‘Aliens’, Suits also copied John Carpenter and tried to copy his ‘The Thing’. This uninspired stealing resulted in a film that you’ve seen dozens of times in worse and less lousy versions.

In ‘Breach’ our globe is not doing too well. Our planet is in bad shape and humanity is moving to other planets. A large group of people travel to their new home in a megalomaniac spaceship. Unfortunately, there are alien stowaways on board. It’s up to a team of guards to eliminate these uninvited guests.

The aliens can disguise themselves as humans (the link with ‘The Thing’) and the alien villains are large in number and therefore master even the biggest brawler (the plot of ‘Aliens’). Suits makes no secret of its sources of inspiration. Lead actor Bruce Willis also plagiarizes. The bald actor plays himself as he has for years after his Hollywood career hit the snag. Once again the American plays a stoic loner who spends the day full of sarcasm. Without catchy one liners and good counterplay there is little to laugh about. Thomas Jane – also a beloved action hero in the distant past – throws the hat at it. But at least this guy realizes what kind of pulp he’s playing in. Thanks to his bold playing, Jane is quite enjoyable as a grim mourner.

Besides uninspired and corny acting ‘Breach’ consists of cheap special effects that came out of ancient Pentium processors. The trick looks heavily dated and does not convince for a second. What remains is a dull clone of two eighties squatters. With a worn-out Willis in need of money and a fiercely applying Jane. Waste of time.