An unexpected success, Android Apocalypse is a small-budgeted thriller, filled with plenty of action, solid acting, and well-above par special effects. Those who remember The Defiant Ones will find this futuristic sci-fi take more than a little familiar. That's one of the few things to hold against it.

Downtime in Android Apocalypse is rare. Its set up is quick and to the point, joining a human and human-like android together at the wrist as they elude capture. Their hatred for each other sets up most of the action while adding an extra layer of tension. Pauses for story and character development in between explosions vary in quality.

Sentimental moments are a little hard to swallow given the sci-fi setting. Bonding a human and an android, especially one played by Joey Lawrence of Blossom fame, must have been a little more difficult than the director intended. Thankfully, there's a perfect amount of comedy thrown in to lighten up the mood. It's not enough to send it into the realm of camp, either.

The desolate landscapes the majority of the film takes place in are effective for numerous reasons. They do well in masking flaws in the special effects, create a dire situation for the main characters, and likely saved on budget since the audience is usually looking at desert terrain. For $1 million, the film looks incredible. The amount of fire, complicated explosions, and superb visual moments make it hard to believe how cheaply this was all put together.

Fight sequences are wonderfully choreographed, especially an early one featuring a cameo by WWE star Chris Jericho. The finale becomes one huge brawl, and however unbelievable it may be it's great entertainment. It's almost a shame it ends around the 90-minute mark.

Typically, Sci-Fi Channel originals are cause for either unintended humor or sheer boredom. Android Apocalypse is one of the rare breed that succeeds. It's their best effort this year, and arguably of last year too.