Outlander (R) *

Outlandishly bad effects -- and that's the good part.

James Caviezel stars in Howard McCain's "Outlander", The Weinstein Company.

By Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald

Predator meets Beowulf in Outlander, a wan little B-movie done in by terminal deja vu. There isn't a single scene in this story about a traveler from another planet (Jim Caviezel) who crash-lands on Earth during the Iron Age that doesn't remind you of another, better movie.

The extra-terrestrial, who calls himself Kainan, has brought a stowaway on board -- a giant monster known as a Moorwen -- which escapes and starts preying on a nearby Viking village ruled by a wise old king (John Hurt) and his impetuous son (Jack Huston).

A long and much-belabored series of events later, the medieval warriors eventually mount a bug-hunt to exterminate the critter. Director Howard McCain, who also co-wrote the script with Dirk Blackman, paces what should have been a brisk and short action romp as if it were a British costume drama. Outlander moves oh-so-slowly, with every plot element (including the beautiful and brave love interest, played by Sophia Myles) taking what seems like forever to fall into place before the movie gets to the good stuff.

Unfortunately, the filmmakers' imaginations exceeded Outlander's budget by a wide margin. The special effects are cheesy enough to render the picture a quasi-comedy. A brutal battle with a ferocious bear is shot entirely in extreme close-ups, Ed Wood style, in hopes of disguising the fact the fierce creature is made of rubber and cotton balls. The big bad Moorwen is entirely computer-generated, but it looks like either it was created on a Commodore 64 or the money ran out before the finishing touches could be applied.

Caviezel, a capable actor who has never been able to get his career going, spends the first half of Outlander being whipped, lashed and chained, as if it were The Passion of the Christ Part II. Eventually, he gets to take over as the resourceful hero, but no one can save Outlander from sinking into a pile of hoary cliches best viewed for free on late-night TV. After a six pack or two. During a bout of insomnia. When absolutely nothing else is on.

Cast: Jim Caviezel, Sophia Myles, Jack Huston, John Hurt, Cliff Saunders, Ron Perlman.

Director: Howard McCain.

Screenwriters: Dirk Blackman, Howard McCain.

Producers: Chris Roberts, John Schimmel.

A Third Rail release. Running time: 115 minutes. Vulgar language, violence, gore. Playing at area theaters.