What if the Earth/Mars battle from H.G. Wells' classic novel The War of the Worlds wasn't fiction but actually fact? That's the story of WAR OF THE WORLDS THE TRUE STORY, one of 208 contenders for the 85th Academy Award Oscars, including consideration for best adapted screenplay, best editing and best original score. Like the famous 1938 Orson Welles radio broadcast that caused Americans to believe an actual invasion was in progress, the movie assumes an Earth/Mars War actually occurred in the year 1900 and is presented as the eyewitness memoir of journalist Bertie Wells, the last living survivor as he struggles to find his wife amidst the destruction of humankind at the hands of terrifying alien invaders.
Ain’t It Cool News critic Ambush Bug raved, “The best film I had the privilege of seeing this week was WAR OF THE WORLDS: THE TRUE STORY.” With glowing praise, he went on to say things such as, “Even the sci fi effects feel authentic with all of the shaky and grainy camerawork. I especially loved watching the attacks of both the aliens and the giant machines which have a SKY CAPTAIN & THE WORLD OF TOMORROW look to them. Everything is treated with a serious and dire tone and there’s even a touching love story in the middle of it all as well to add an extra bit of depth that, coming from the narrator’s POV, will definitely make your heart swell.” He then summed it up by saying, “WAR OF THE WORLDS: THE TRUE STORY is one of the coolest little films I’ve come across in quite a while. As if the Orson Welles radio broadcast wasn’t mythic enough, along comes this mock-doc to add a whole new layer of intrigue to H.G. Wells’ fascinating story. Highly recommended to those who love revisionist history, alien invasion films, and thrilling real life documentaries.”
Critic Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times said, "’War of the Worlds The True Story is clever like Wells. Hugely inventive and ambitious, a mock sci-fi docudrama packed with a truly impressive — and clever — mix of editing (a reported 3 1/2 years' worth), special effects, visual artistry and offbeat storytelling."
Frank Scheck, critic of The Hollywood Reporter called the movie, "Impressive for its technical achievements...Director/Editor Hines weaves the various styles of footage together in expert fashion."
"Ever since the 1953 movie adaptation of War Of The Worlds there have been numerous other translations of Wells’ novel, even a 1988 short lived TV series, but of all the ones I have seen the only two—yes, only two—I find worthy of repeated viewings is the ’53 film and this new 2013 docudrama." - Shawn Francis, You Won Cannes
Steven Rose Jr. of the Sacramento Examiner gave the movie 5 out of 5 stars and said, “’The True Story’ carries the suspense and drama of both the 1953 movie and Spielberg’s 2005 version but in a more realistic manner through its documentary style.”
“The aliens are unsettling, with bright, evil eyes and writhing tentacles. The designs of the tripods and the aliens are much truer to the book than other versions," said reviewer Tristan Hiegler of the PT Leader
“I loved this movie…it’s the ultimate ‘what if?’ movie…Buy it, watch it, and relive the classic. You won’t be sorry!” - Dave Reneke, ASTRO SPACE NEWS Australia's #1 Astronomy News Service.
The movie uniquely uses Cutting Edge Visual Effects to blend a modern cast with Battalions of Actual Fighting Soldiers, Golden Age Movie Stars, and previously undisclosed images of Tentacled Alien Creatures and their 10-Story High, 3-Legged Fighting Machines.