A NASA Antarctic Station which is working on an experiment with corn have discovered a "vessel" of some sort encased in ice and store it inside a docking area for further study. "Language expert" and cryptologist ( a professor who had ties to a NASA project dedicated to extraterrestrial life which was shut down) Julian Rome is sent to the station to see if he can "uncode" a form of language emanating from whatever is inside the quickly-melting ice. Spader does so by using mathematics and eventually succeeds making a startling discovery which says not to open the vessel which contains an alien life form that has a pathogen which infects humans. Unable to stop crew members who did not know what was awaiting them inside that vessel, open it with a cutting blade unleashing the pathogen which kills some immediately while others' immune systems develop resistance to the infection. But, the US government could not take the chance of total annihilation of the earth and so must fire a nuclear weapon into the Antarctic Station, informing Julian and the remaining survivors that they have three hours before the weapon blasts them to kingdom come. While "Alien Hunter" does "borrow" material from other science fiction from the past, it is not a complete replica of "The Thing" or "Alien". The Alien inside the space pod which crash landed on Earth isn't a menace, but there were plans to "integrate" with the human race. It is recognized in the dialogue of Julian's mentor, Dr. John Bachman (Roy Dotrice), that Mars suffered extinction because of the Alien race which threatens Earth in the plot. A fascinating conclusion, however, offers a chance for that integration, as well as, grants a possible reprieve to condemned members of the crew as the time for the station's bombing looms near. Janine Eser is Dr. Kate Brecher, once a student—and lover—of Julian's, wanting him to put aside their past feelings in order to work together on board the station. John Lynch is brilliant geneticist, Dr. Michael Straub, who becomes a hindrance because he does not want to die and the notion of awaiting his death inside the station causes him to act irrationally, leading to a gun going off (after it is stolen from a crew member during an altercation, with the use of a fork leading to Straub getting a hold of the gun and shooting frantically at anyone who threatens to stop him from trying to escape), with victims caught in the crossfire. Nikolai Binev is geneticist Dr. Alexi Gierach, an old colleague of Julian's, the wise scientist whose opinion is of the utmost importance to those around him. Leslie Stefanson is Nyla Olson, a member of the crew along with Aimee Graham, which also includes Carl Lewis as the radio operator and Anthony Crivello as a helicopter pilot forming an alliance with the frightened Straub (the one responsible for the fork attack towards the end during his attempted escape with Straub).Some of the special CGI effects are decent for what is basically a syfy channel product. Of course, Spader's presence in the cast adds major star power to a film—he must've agreed to perform in the film when he read the script and noticed dialogue of a sexual nature (with subtle innuendo included), along with how women are drawn to him. I don't necessarily mean that as a slight against him, but most of his films always feature a college girl desiring him or other women attracted to him. "Alien Hunter", though, doesn't develop any sexual complications, settling into a sci-fi story about possible apocalyptic gloom and doom for humankind if the alien pathogen is released into the earth's atmosphere. Spader's characters often keep their cool, are rational and logical, approach difficult situations without indulging in histrionics, and that is no different here. Julian, such as when he meets the freed alien on the loose somewhere in the station, doesn't wish to harm it but greet the life form, as others, like Straub, want to kill it out of fear. The screenplay, written by JS Cardone, does seem to carry an influence from 50s sci-fi, while containing modern techno-babble we are accustomed to in the "X Files age".

Just woke up on a Saturday morning and this movie was just beginning on SciFi... I'd seen the name before, but honestly did not expect much, specifically because of the name, it's terrible and does not describe this movie at all. So not expecting much, I was more than pleasantly surprised! I had no idea James Spader was in it and he played the role well, mainly because he didn't need to act much. The plot was similar to a number of other films as folks have mentioned, but sufficiently different enough to keep you guessing. For a made for TV movie, I thought it was well done and would recommend it to anybody who is looking for some decent scifi. While it would have been much better broadcast in HD (the channel was, the movie wasn't), it was good entertainment with which to start the weekend. Now if they'd just change that frackin' name...

Cheers! Surprisingly decent. A lot better than I expected from the title. Familiar science fiction themes from other movies rehashed, but handled well. I like the twists. I won't ruin the movie for you by discussing them. Decent performances from most of the actors and some good cgi. If your a science fiction fan than it is entertaining enough to sit through unlike a lot of stuff out there. Note - check out the appearance by Kier Dullea (2001 Space Odyssey) - Interesting choice. Bravo. J. Spader is good in it as expected. His character is similar to his Stargate character. If you are a fan of that then you should check this out as well. This film has a much darker tone to it reminiscent to The Thing.

Alien Hunter: 5 out of 10: Is it me or does every movie that starts in Roswell, New Mexico suck. Take Alien mixed with The Thing, mixed with Contact, mixed with of all things On the Beach, The Andromeda Strain, the classroom scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark and a throw in a little Stargate to boot. Derivative doesn't even begin to describe this movie. Of course with nothing original plot wise they amp up the gore and sex right? Nope gore is a blink and you miss it affair and sex is all tease. (James Spader causally mentions he needs a shower and the delectable Leslie Stefanson asks to join him…. he turns her down. AGGH!) In fact if a movie ever needed a shower scene to liven things up this is it. I mean if your going to have impossibly good-looking women in white bathing suits wandering around an Antarctica research base why not go for broke.With about 30 seconds of actual thrill in the entire movie Alien Hunter is remarkable serious and slow going for a sci-fi adventure. Needed a much better plot twist to liven it up and by the way the Alien itself is a horribly clichéd artifice and has virtually no screen time for someone who shares half the title. I also inquired during viewing what is with the Children of the Corn in space motif. (Note that since Jason of Friday the 13th fame, Pinhead from Hellraiser and that Leprechaun have all traveled to space to slay nubile teenagers why not the cornfield?) The characters in the cornfield dress like Logan's Run extras and I was just waiting for the stalks to come alive and attack them.That however would have been exciting and apparently against this movies covenant. The acting is mostly fine as Spader reprises his Stargate role while Stefanson and Janine Eser model the latest in Antarctic beachwear. John Lynch however read the whole script and acts the like the insane bad guy well before the story would indicate it.Alien Hunter is a disappointing derivative slog that makes me pine for a proper Children of The Corn in Space movie.