‘Outlander’ – Straight to DVD sleeper

It’s hard to tell what’s most frightening about “Outlander,” the new science fiction feature heading to DVD May 19.

Could it be the fact that it appeared in only81 theaters earlier this year, or that its name sounds suspiciously like the overheated ’80s dud “Highlander?”

Never mind. “Outlander” is a sweet surprise, a sci-fi adventure with fine effects, a heroic lead in Jim Caviezel and enough furious action to satiate genre fans.

Who cares if the script is as flat as the sword Caviezel wields while fighting the film’s monster?

Caviezel stars as Kainan, a man from the future who somehow crash lands on Earth during The Viking Years. He’s quickly captured by a local Viking troupe led by John Hurt, whose beard might actually weigh more than he does.

But Kainan’s appearance comes at the same time as a series of attacks on the Viking clan. Its warriors blame their mortal enemies, another Viking outfit, for the assaults.

It’s actually the work of a creature who looks like the Alien and Predator monsters had a baby – a really ugly baby who nibbles on glow sticks.

Kainan and co. set out to destroy the monster, but it sure would help to have a phaser or two. Primitive weapons don’t so much as scratch its fluorescent hide.

“Outlander” could have been a SciFy channel quickie. Instead, it looks terrific and offers a foe that feels original even if it’s stitched together from established movie monsters, Frankenstein-style. And the creature’s origin, as well as Kainan’s, gives the story surprising depth.

Caviezel is too withdrawn here to be memorable, but his character is noble enough to sustain our interest. And kudos to Sophia Myles of “Underworld” fame for bringing life to the standard feisty female role.

It’s hard to say why “Outlander” got a quick theater dump before hitting DVD. It’s fun, fast and frivolous, all qualities a respectable genre entry must have.

Some people expected something else, apparently.

Here’s a perfect example of a film critic alienating a key part of his audience – science fiction fans – while showing his elitist bona fides.

“Outlander” doesn’t try hard enough to warrant that kind of smackdown.

(Photo: Jim Caviezel plays a man from outer space who lands in Vikings-era earth to battle a monster in “Outlander.”)

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