I liked the idea of an extraterrestrial encounter on earth but where the aliens found no reason to actually stop and just continued their journey.
Red is a troubled family man. Constantly getting sucked into the zone for one reason or another. The only thing that doesn't change are his values on friendship and family.
Every incursion to the zone you feel like you are there side by side with the characters, right up to the very last one.
Banger.