Cowboys and Aliens isn't the only alien invasion picture playing your local multiplex. Attack the Block is a high energy throwback to the likes of unsung 80's "aliens-on-the loose" flicks like Critters. This time the target is South London, and the potential heroes are a gang of inner city hooligans who must use their street smarts to outwit a deadly race from outer space. Simply put, Attack the Block is fan film, fun in every sense of the term, and I'd expect no less from Executive Producer Edgar Wright (director of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim) and first time feature director Joe Cornish (a frequent Wright collaborator). Attack the Block is fueled by a charismatic turn from newcomer John Boyega (as the lead hooligan) and wonderfully creative special effects (the majority of which are practical as opposed to CGI). Furthermore, this winning genre film benefits from terrific scares, undeniable tension, big laughs, dark humor, and a welcome bit of social commentary. While the characters' slang and thick accents take some getting used to, they only add to the overall quality of this entertaining sci-fi thriller.