I miss conventions. From monster conventions to comic to gaming, I really miss a good con. With conventions being canceled left and right – and a valid reason to stay home from the dangerous few that are still hosting – 2020 has left a void for many convention-goers. Well, if you’re looking for something to give you back a little slice of that con experience you’re missing, Monster Force Zero is here to help.

As a convention organizer myself (Hello, Southern-Fried Gaming Expo plug) and a seasoned attendee of Dragon Con and others, I really appreciate individual elements that make up a con. There are cosplayers, sci-fi and fantasy fans, comic book lovers, vendors, and in some cases, even an indie film fest. Monster Force Zero mixes all the elements of a standard comic convention and celebrates it with a unique, visual story for the screen.

Since my explanation of the plot would be all over the place, here’s the succinct official summary:

After their comic book dreams are crushed, a group of sci-fi cosplayers are granted superpowers and are transported into the multiverse to do real battle with evil alien forces bent on earth’s destruction.

What the summary leaves out is that our main characters are comic creators who are trying to promote their book at a convention by cosplaying as their comic characters, Monster Force Zero. When challenged by a smarmy rival cosplay crew, a victory in a challenge contest elevates the MFZ crew as defenders in a much larger battle for Earth.

There are some positive highlights in this movie: a solid synth score, high-quality post-production visual effects, and a story that has the potential to be a Hollywood blockbuster. Sadly, there’s also plenty of factors that keep this one from being on any must-see list.

WWE star Pat Tanaka and a brief cameo from Star Trek: Voyager‘s Garrett Wang are standouts in an otherwise poorly acted movie. As a crowdfunded project, I recognize there were probably significant budget constraints, but cheap-looking LED goggles and a fixed-expression gorilla/yeti costume for main characters do not lend themselves to escapism.

Monster Force Zero would fit perfectly in one of those indie film fests hosted by a sci-fi convention or as a student film. Add in the fact that several scenes were filmed in what appears to be a functioning, real-world convention, this sci-fi movie with an indie feel almost, almost gives me some of that missing con vibe I crave.

If I’m being honest, I decided to review Monster Force Zero solely based on the poster art. With images of a dinosaur, spaceships, some weird yeti creature, an Assassin’s Creed cosplayer, and some sort of sorceress “demonatrix” prominently displayed, it was so confusing and intriguing I went against my better judgment and requested a review screener.

Based on my expectations (or lack thereof), I was neither disappointed nor surprised. I don’t regret my time checking it out, but let me just say, if, like me, you’re the kind of person who is intrigued by the poster (you know who you are), there’s probably enough in Monster Force Zero to make it worth your time to check out. Otherwise, you may just want to work on your own costumed character creation and wait patiently for the next convention to roll around.

Monster Force Zero arrives on streaming from Wild Eye Releasing October 13, 2020.