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» » Нация пришельцев: Темный горизонт (1994)

Short summary

Followup movie to the TV series about 250,000 aliens, or "Newcomers" as they are known, who have settled alongside the humans in California. Most of the Newcomers were slaves, and the Overseers are now looking for them. They send Ahpossno to earth to locate the slaves to take them back to the ship.

The wedding scene was filmed on a bridge near Pasadena Ambassador College. Director Kenneth Johnson had used the same location for another wedding in The Incredible Hulk: Married (1978). This time, his wife Susan Lee Appling played the Priestess performing the ceremony.

Resolves the cliffhanger ending of Alien Nation (1989) which had been cancelled unexpectedly after its first season. The success of this film led to several more Alien Nation telefilms over the next few years.

A commercial for New Menu foodstuffs, in which a Newcomer woman serves her young son Max a helping of uncooked beef, liver and chicken, is playing on one of the televisions in the electronics shop. This was a real commercial designed to promote Alien Nation (1989) which aired on Fox prior to the series' premiere on September 18, 1989. This is evidenced by the fact that "© 1989 Fox Broadcasting Co." appears on the bottom of the screen as the commercial ends. The promo initially obscured the Newcomers' alien status by not showing the woman's face and having her son Max wear a rain jacket hood. Furthermore, the prominent appearance of a cat was meant to suggest that the woman was in fact going to serve the uncooked meat to her pet rather than her son. The promo was previously shown in Alien Nation: Eyewitness News (1990).

Susanna Thompson plays Lorraine Clark in a film, a character previously played by Barbara Tyson (then known as Barbara Bush) in Alien Nation: The Touch (1990) and Alien Nation: Green Eyes (1990). With respect to returning characters, Tyson is the only actor from the series who did not reprise their role in the film.

The film takes place in 1999.

The name of the Tenctonese slave ship is "Gruza". Gruza is a Russian word that means "cargo".

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Boyn
    The first thing that has to be said is that if you're not a fan of the Alien Nation TV series from the late 80's then this film will not only confuse you, but the chances are, you just won't like it. That however is not really a problem, as this film was never made with the intention of attracting a new global audience. Dark Horizon was made for the fans that were truly gutted and disappointed that the excellent Alien Nation TV series (like so many other American shows) was cancelled after the first series. The film is a continuation of the series and so sets out to resolve the cliffhanger ending, further character development and give insight into the 'Newcomers' background. It is also obvious from viewing the film that this was always intended on being the first of many TV films.

    The film itself is quite good. It manages to capture the essence and feeling of the original show whilst effortlessly transferring itself onto the big screen. There is a common danger that when TV shows are introduced to the world of films, they end up feeling like an overly long episode that tries too much to impress its hardcore fans, and tries too many new explanatory things to engage others. However, Dark Horizon embraces it's new format and uses it as a platform to further explore the history behind the 'Newcomers' and to show off some of the potential that the series promised. All the original cast members are back, which brings a smile to any fan. Emily (Laura Woodland) and Buck Francisco (Sean Six) were only kids in the series and so are obviously older looking as it has been five years, yet these little discrepancies have to be ignored. Some fans will point out little things that don't add up to the series, or don't exactly follow on from the cliff-hanger ending, but beggars cannot be choosers and it is the reviewers opinion that we should all be grateful that these films were made, that the cast and crew came back and that they give it everything to continue the Alien Nation legacy.

    The premise of the film evolves around a ruthless Overseer who is sent from one of their colony ships to Earth, to check for any surviving 'Newcomers'. This is inter-fused with Susan and Emily's attempted recovery from the newcomer killing disease. Like the series, Dark Horizon brilliantly blends the social dramas of family and relationships, with that of racism, police work and all-out action, which in this case involves killer diseases and samurai aliens. The highlight of the film is undoubtedly the relationship between Matthew Sikes (Gary Graham) and George Francisco (Eric Pierpoint). Their cop-buddy routine was the heart and soul of the series and this again shines through within the film. Alien Nation: Dark Horizon is a good film and more importantly an excellent follow up to the short-lived series. If you haven't seen the original Alien Nation TV series, go and buy it right now. Watch it, slag off the TV network for cancelling it, and then immerse yourself in the first of five follow up films: Dark Horizon.
  • comment
    • Author: Sardleem
    This is the only Alien Nation made for t.v. movie that I believed has been released. I have it on VHS and I have played it so many times that there are lines running through it. I thought it was a very good follow up to the series (I was bummed when it was canceled)and I'm looking forward to the other movies being released, hopefully on DVD. The movie explained that although the slave ship had landed five years previously, slave over-seers were still looking for their "lost cargo." They sent an aggressive over-seer to scout out the location and hopefully retrieve some of the slaves. Needless to say, the survivors of the ship were not going willingly back to a life of servitude and humiliation. The movie was a entertaining piece.
  • comment
    • Author: Blackseeker
    I just finished my dvds of Alien Nation Ultimate Movie Collection and Dark Horizon was a very good continuation of the popular series that got canceled in 1990.All of the original cast returned even though there were a few changes, five years had passed so scenes had to be re shot because old footage couldn't be used.

    What made the film shine was the good buddy cop routine between Francisco and his human partner Sikes it was the basis for the show and the movie. Picking up right where the final episode Green Eyes left off the fate of the tenctonese race is put into danger when a ruthless overseer called Ahpossno (Patterson) has been sent to recover the 250,000 slaves that disappeared five years ago. Meanwhile Susan (Scarabelli), & Emily (Woodland), have been infected with a virus designed to kill the newcomer race there are some other issues to deal with in the movie.

    Matt (Graham) had a falling out with George (Pierpoint) over his partner's promotion to detective 2 and his relationship with Cathy (Treas) is still having problems so he dates Lorraine Clark (Thompson). My favorite scenes were when Matt & George became friends again during a private moment in the hospital room where they sing a song to Susan who lays ill in her bed. Also after hearing some racist remarks from his human love interest he finally realizes that maybe a relationship with a tenctonese woman is possible.

    for fans of sci- fi action Dark Horizon provides plenty of entertainment and thrills from beginning to end.
  • comment
    • Author: Kare
    The TV series was brilliant. Never shied away from handling everyday issues in modern day society. The characters and cast, supporting cast included were fantastic. Very disappointingly axed after one season. How crap like Buffy and Angel outlasted this is far beyond me. This movie picks up right after the heartbreaking cliff hanger, 'Green Eyes'. Albeit circumstances are slightly different regarding the end of Green Eyes and the start of Dark Horizon but this is quickly forgotten and we march into an incredible story. Almost all the original cast return (no Dobbs) even George's neighbors! The movie handles it all. Where the Newcomers came from and how they weren't 'forgotten'!! But he one thing I'm so happy with is, even after five years apart the cast still work brilliant together. Anyone who enjoyed the series will love this.
  • comment
    • Author: Reighbyra
    Here is some interesting information for you and a connection that I may have found. I have first noticed that the writer for this movie was Rockne S. O'Bannon. And I noticed that his father may be in fact Dan O'Bannon who did the movie "Alien" (1979) directed by the wonderful director Ridley Scott. And here's an interesting fact that you may have noticed. One of the main ships in space from which Aporos shuttle came from looks like the deserted ship found in the movie "Alien" that the crew of the Nostromo investigated and brought back the Alien to their ship. Check the both out and tell me and all what you think about the similarities. And both the T.V. series, and corresponding movies, and movie "Alien" are made by 20th Century Fox.
  • comment
    • Author: Taur
    I loved this movie! It gave us a true insight into the background and history of the "Alien" race. It was nice to see the relationship between Matt and Cathy explored. They are a perfect "inter-species" couple. (The book "Cross of Blood" that is sort-of a sequel to this movie was a real disappointment though!) This movie allowed us to see the spiritual heritage of the Newcomers. It was interesting to see the similarities to the "human" world of spirituality! God did create All "Man" in the same light - regardless of whether or not they were born on "Earth"!!
  • comment
    • Author: superstar
    "Alien Nation" was a TV show based on a movie that in turn had TV movies based on the TV show. Having seen this film, I thought it was just okay. It was weird how they sort of abandoned the plot about the virus killing the newcomers. I understand that this series is fairly popular. It just isn't for me. It's at least passable. It came off as kind of boring to me. It would be easy to dismiss this as just another easy analogy for racism. At the time of the film's release, the trope wasn't nearly as developed.

    There are definitely good scenes. I especially like it when the characters talk about religion and God's plan. The newcomers themselves have their own beliefs about souls. They wonder if the aliens even have souls. There's certainly nothing about it in the Bible. I appreciate how it is pretty charming how the human character falls in love with the newcomer. It's interesting to see how they understand Earth culture and it isn't rushed like in most other movies. It's fine for what it is. **1/2
  • comment
    • Author: Skillet
    This TV series was made in the mid 90s, but looks much older. The overall story of the alien slaves reaching the sunny shores of California is a good idea and may offer premises for both social comment and good drama. Unfortunately acting is so conventional, costumes and effects so poor that less than ten years after production this movie looks like an oldie. Hard core fans of science fiction (like myself) better watch an old Star Trek. At least, this was the original. 5/10 on my personal scale.
  • Cast overview, first billed only:
    Gary Graham Gary Graham - Det. Matthew Sikes
    Eric Pierpoint Eric Pierpoint - George Francisco
    Michele Scarabelli Michele Scarabelli - Susan Francisco
    Terri Treas Terri Treas - Cathy Frankel
    Lauren Woodland Lauren Woodland - Emily Francisco
    Sean Six Sean Six - Buck Francisco
    Jeffrey Marcus Jeffrey Marcus - Albert Einstein / Glenza (as Jeff Marcus)
    Ron Fassler Ron Fassler - Capt. Bryon Grazer
    Scott Patterson Scott Patterson - Ahpossno / Norman Conquest
    Jenny Gago Jenny Gago - Detective Beatrice Zapeda
    Michele Lamar Richards Michele Lamar Richards - Dr. Lois Allen
    Dana Andersen Dana Andersen - May O'Naise / Okiana
    Lee Bryant Lee Bryant - Phyllis Bryant
    David Purdham David Purdham - Marc Guerin
    Diane Cary Diane Cary - Penny
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