From the very beginning of Joe Begos’ Jimmy and Stiggs, it’s very clear that this is gonna be a unique experience that takes numerous creative liberties. Starting with a first person perspective from our lead Jimmy’s POV including blinks as he goes from smoking to drinking in aggression when he learns a project of his isn’t moving forward. A sequence of events occur that send waves of nausea to the average watcher (raises hand) and then things go quiet, anxiety drops slightly and the perspective shifts to out of body. 

 

Coated in neon and blacklight, this showcases a creative spiral as they utilize their addictions and simultaneously witness an alien encounter. The aliens are traditional in their iconic silhouette and while they may be vicious, they’re just as easily taken down like ragdolls only to get back up. After the initial interaction with the out of towners, Jimmy attempts to reason with the chaos of the night before and that’s when his friend Stiggs arrives.

 

Stiggs is the opposite of Jimmy - sober and appears on first contact to have his life together. When Jimmy freaks out over his arrival and Stiggs refuses to leave, the aliens take action and seal off the apartment. Doubt and fear begin to take place, leading to Stiggs ultimately being led off the wagon. 

 

Jimmy and Stiggs relationship is infinite levels of toxic and the meaning behind it all could have so many different levels or it could be a simple alien invasion film gone insane. At points the aliens aren’t even the threat any longer and the brawl between friends can get even more brutal. 

 

There isn’t a real end goal to it all, just fight aliens, survive and get out alive - all while being in the confines of a 2 bedroom apartment. The aliens may seem like easy targets, but their recoil is something fierce as there doesn’t seem to be any bringing them down. 

 

The film is fueled by its practical creatures and while at times the environment may come off as more of a haunted attraction than a person’s humble abode, it still has a spark of creativity behind every decision. The puppeteering of the aliens themselves is tremendous and the extraterrestrial gore is spectacular with the lighting illuminating the blood in a hilarious fashion. 

 

Produced by Eli Roth’s The Horror Section, Jimmy and Stiggs is a wild experience from start to finish. A bizarre neon-coated acid trip that handles both addiction and alien abduction in a fascinating over the top fashion. Needless to say this is one creature feature worth the descent into madness.