Mikes Film Talk

There are nods and homages galore in 2026 film; The Xenophobes. Pacing problems are the least of the issues here. Before outlining the story, let’s talk about all those other films, that The Xenophobes tips its hat to.

The Street Where You Live

At best guess, there are a number of plotlines at work here as homages. In a number of ways, The Xenophobes feels like a lyric from “The Street Where You Live.” If it doesn’t ring any bells, head over to YouTube and search. I’ll wait.

Done? Right then, let’s move on, shall we?

The drug that Earth insists everyone take, feels like a lift from Serenity in 2005. *Of course there are no Reavers in this film, but the demand for the populace to take anti-violent drugs is in the Whedon flick.*

The feeling that the astronauts have of being on the wrong Earth, brings to mind Planet of the Apes (1968). Instead of simian replacements for “humanity” we have a lot of vapid and rather lifeless individuals.

The Xenophobes Time Dilation

There have been several films based upon the idea of time dilation. Interstellar (2014) springs immediately to mind. In The Xenophobes, it helps to move the story forward rather well.

The Graphics

The SFX are a major letdown. Although, to be fair, The Xenophobes does point out, in a purely expostional way, there is no sound in space. There is no budget information available but one presumes this computer generated FX was a monetary necessity.

The Xenophobes Story

Commander Capt Ballah and her crew attempt to make peaceful contact with a new planet. Things do not go well. She has to “attack” the new species and find a backdoor into negotiations. Things then go from bad to worse, and the crew have to return; empty handed.

Back on Earth, the captain and her crew are lauded as heroes. Earth itself, however, has changed. Rather a lot. To the crew, the time spent on their mission lasts 12 years total. Due to the dilation, however, on the big blue planet, it has been 60 years.

The Main Cast

Svetlana Tulasi is Captain Shriya Ballah.

Andrew Smith is Thelonious.

Jess Weaver is Commander Paola Cottrell.

Penny Cullers is Commander Christina Cooper

Mor Ben Haim is Lieutenant Ellis Abraham.

The Xenophobes Kind of Works

Penny Cullers and Hal Dace co-direct this one. Cullers also plays Cooper as well as Producer and Art. Dace is a real Robert Rodrigues here.

Hal Dace co-wrote, with Lancer Kind. He also directed, edited, wrote and produced The Xenophobe. Dace feels downright at home as “wunderkind.” That he is a cottage industry force who knows how to tell a story. * I tend to refer to these maestroes as a Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez is, to the best of my knowledge, the first successful cottage industry auteur to do so much himself.*

The sets in The Xenophobes are frugal, sparse, and abstract. Captain Ballah’s admiral chair is a wooden seat. It even looks like a DIY kitchen chair from IKEA. However this sheer “mix and match” of properties and sets makes the most of this Spartan motivated arena.

Good Story

Amazingly, despite some MAC truck sized plot holes and the lags in its narrative, the film entertains. However, these issues affect the pacing of the story. This leads to that saggy bit in the middle.

Tulasi is perfect as the diminutive captain. She exudes confidence and is a solid leader of her crew. Husband Thelonious, as played by Andrew Smith, offers a presentable supporting spouse. Cullers, as Commander Cooper is a bit of a limp rag.

Kudos to Ali Stolar, Helena Sullivan, Jazmin Ramirez and Naimah Cruz who play the offspring of Capt Ballah and Thelonious. These four actors, the latter two playing Morag and Moira as younger children, are spot on.

Another of Those Nods

There is a clear nod to the Sly Stallone/Sandra Bullock/Wesley Snipes “film with a message;” Demolition Man 1993. There too, the locals enforcers carried non-lethal weapons. Dace and Kind clearly love the science fiction genre and ladle on the references. Once again, this works.

The Xenophobes Verdict

The Xenophobes earns a shaky 3.5 out of 5 stars. The film does have issues, but, the story and the conviction of all who are sailing this ship tell their tale. It entertains. One does feel a compulsion to see this one to the end. The movie works very well, despite sagging in the middle. Also in spite of the painful CGI.

Dace and Cullers do well with what they have. It is a good idea to embrace the abstract feel of the sets and run with the story. The movie can be streamed/rented via Amazon Prime as of May 4, 2026.

Just forgive the too perfect CG and see what you think.

The Trailer