MOONTRAP: TARGET EARTH is another indie science fiction film that fails to convince due to lack of budget. It doesn't help that the script veers between boredom-inducing exposition and incoherence. The story is about a spaceship that's discovered on the surface of the Moon and one character's trip there to discover something about civilisation, but none of it is remotely convincing. Half of it was filmed in a quarry which reminded me of the old DR WHO episodes while other parts are green screen. There are only three or four actors on screen at the same time. At the very end you get to see a robot whose look is copied from STAR WARS.

Daniel (Damon Dayoub) and his girlfriend Scout (Sarah Butler) are attempting to raise funds about a discovery of a large female head statue. Meanwhile, and apparently nearby, a pyramid is uncovered with writing estimated to be 14,000 years old. They are called in by a group (them) to decipher the meaning. Scout is able to decode them, by a means that seems to be more of channeling their meaning than an actual deciphering.

Anyway, Richard Kontral (Charles Shaughnessy) is a bad guy and people die to keep the secret. The plot doesn't have any decent twist and oh ya, there is that moon thing at the end, a moon that has the same gravity as Earth something the special effects people ignored. There were a couple of bots, nothing overly impressive. The film has a New Age theme. Sarah Butler wears a revealing gown and has some blurred side view nudity.

The film felt like it was written for the Saturday morning crowd, but then they added the risqué outfit and some awkwardly placed F-words, spoken by people who don't know how to swear. Sarah Butler was very unconvincing. Nice red outfit.

Sassy young linguist Scout (a spunky and appealing portrayal by Sarah Butler) gets a job translating symbols on an ancient spacecraft that was left behind by a long gone advanced human civilization. Scout then gets transported to the moon where she uncovers a heretofore unknown link to mankind's past and the evolution of the human race.

Director/co-writer Robert Dyke relates the enjoyable story at a snappy pace, maintains a serious tone throughout, and takes time to flesh out the characters. Moreover, Dyke and co-writer Tex Ragsdale bring a thoughtful quality to the compelling premise which in turn gives this picture extra depth and substance. The solid acting by the game cast keeps things on course: Damon Dayoub as the hunky Daniel Allen, Charles Shaughnessy as evil rich jerk Richard Kentral, Niki Spiridakos as the mysterious Myra, Jennifer Kincer as lethal flunky Nicole, and Chris Newman as the nerdy Carter. The special effects ain't half bad considering the modest budget. Daniel Peter Kolton's moody score and Lon Stratton's sharp cinematography are both up to par. A neat little indie B-flick.