XENO
(director/writer: Matthew Loren Oates; cinematographer: Paul Marschall; editor: Brian Scot Steele, Matthew Loren Oates; music: Ryan Taubert; cast: Lulu Wilson (Renee), Omari Hardwick (Jonathan Keyes), Paul Schneider (Chase), Garrett van der Leun (Croak), Wrenn Schmidt (Linda), Trae Romano (Gil, school chum of Renee), Josh Cooke (Agent Brown), Mike Wolfe (Huntsman); Runtime: 103; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producers: Kevin Hart, Jesse Jensen, Luke Kelly-Clyne, Shana Marie, Matthew Loren Oates, Bryan Smiley; Tabooma/Blue Fox Entertainment; 2025)
“Lulu’s warm portrayal makes the film likeable.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Matthew Loren Oates is the writer/director of this low-budget indie, in his debut as a feature film director. It’s an “E.T.” themed high-concept sci-fi film that’s let down by its shaky execution of the story. But it has some serious things to say about being open-minded, dealing with trust issues, and about who are the real monsters in society.
Renee (Lulu Wilson) is a smart, weird, pet owner of various reptiles, socially awkward, and strong-willed 15-year-old loner in her school. She lives in a remote area, on the wrong side of town, with her troubled uncommunicative mother Linda (Wrenn Schmidt) and mom’s abusive and volatile alcoholic boyfriend Chase (Paul Schneider). The kid is still grieving the death of her beloved father, who died in an accident.
Renee while alone at night in the New Mexico desert encounters a creepy and menacing looking alien with big teeth (acted in costume by Garrett van der Leun or played by a puppet, both creations are credited to the Jim Henson Creature Shop). The non-verbal alien is caught in a hunter’s bear trap. She frees it and names it Croak, and protects the alien by hiding it in her basement to keep it from two deadly CIA agents Keyes (Omari Hardwick) and Brown (Josh Cooke) who are on its case.
We learn Croak’s spaceship crashed in the desert and that Renee bonds with the predatory looking creature because she trusts it more than she does the humans. She offers it the unconditional love she never had from her mom. The alien offers her protection.
The film loses its way when it tells its heartfelt dysfunctional family drama story side by side with a jokey slapstick comedy story about the visit of her only school friend Gil (Trae Romano), thereby altering the film’s tone.
Though Lulu’s warm portrayal makes the film likeable, its story isn’t compelling enough for me.
REVIEWED ON 9/22/2025 GRADE: B-
dennisschwartzreviews.com