"Apollo 18" lands with chills

We, as human beings don't know much about outer space. That makes the final frontier one of the best settings for a horror movie, especially a place closer to home like the moon.

"Apollo 18", the latest in "found footage" horror movies from Dimension Films, does just that.

Set as the footage from the supposed canceled Apollo 18 mission, the movie follows American Astronauts Anderson (Warren Christie), Walker (Lloyd Owen), and Grey (Ryan Robbins) as they are sent on this top-secret mission to the moon.

 However, they soon discover why the mission is kept under wraps. And with each new discovery, the three men discover that their very lives may be in danger.

The story was intriguing. Government conspiracy stories always capture audiences. The idea that our own governing body covers up anything is enough of a concept to draw in millions of viewers, whether it be for a movie or a TV show.

This story used the concept once again and this time taking it a step further. This movie worked overtime to create the illusion that this was an official government cover-up.

The creators even went as far as to create a site where fans can see the "actual" footage of the Apollo 18 mission. All in all, writers went far and beyond to maintain the general atmosphere of the film.

 The general feel for the movie was creepy, but not scary. Outer space is always a good place to set a horror movie. The feeling of isolation is enough to give tension, let alone terror.

That coupled with the camera angles and type of film use like, grainy-hand held, security footage gave the audience the impression that this really was found footage.

 The special effects weren't over the top either. It was all subtle, small moments where you see a single rock shift or a glimpse of something moving across the screen.

All this with no soundtrack created an overall suspenseful and creepy atmosphere.

Acting wise, everyone was fully committed to their roles. There wasn't a moment were an actor broke character or lost their moment.

There were only three main characters so there weren't too many characters to focus on or lose track of, making the movie far more enjoyable.

Apollo 18 is an experience to say the least. It was well thought out and executed, and one of the best horror movies of the year so far.