THIS CHRISTMAS, THERE WILL BE NO PEACE ON EARTH.

A spaceship crash-lands in the woods outside a small Colorado town, exposing a monster hybrid to mankind; it is soon followed by more monsters clashing regardless of who ends up in the middle.

Making another chapter in this franchise seems to require no greater artistic ambition. In come two special-effects guys who have a go at it.

The Brothers Strause serve up a few thrills, but make it hard for viewers to care about what goes on; too much takes place in darkness and the characters are useless.

2007-U.S. 94 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by The Brothers Strause. Cast: Steven Pasquale (Dallas), Reiko Aylesworth (Kelly), John Ortiz (Morales), Robert Joy, Johnny Lewis, Sam Trammell.

Trivia: Co-produced by Walter Hill.