As the crew of the International Space Station begins to conduct research on recovered samples from Mars, they discover evidence of extraterrestrial life that proves more intelligent and dangerous than anyone ever expected.
Director Daniel Espinosa with a keen eye and discipline offers a solid addition to the sci-fi genre. The visual effects are impressive, from the crew's weightlessness and the space station itself to the presence of the alien organism. The CGI work integrates with practical effects (and finely crafted sets), offering a sense of realism and danger as the characters navigate their precarious situation.
The small cast ensemble play against type-cast adding some depth to their characters. Jake Gyllenhaal adds on screen emotion, with Rebecca Ferguson bringing authenticity and weight. Ryan Reynolds is memorable, and Hiroyuki Sanada is particularly notable.
Writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick drop surprising character deaths throughout to pique interest. As well as drawing from obvious space-themed movies like Alien (1979), it borrows story elements and surprises reminiscent from The Last Days on Mars (2013), but places the action in space rather than on a planet's surface. However, Reese and Wernick’s script also shares similarities with Prometheus (2012) in its portrayal of questionable logic and decision-making by characters. Some actions may detract from the overall believability of the story, but the film still manages to deliver thrills and suspense thanks to Espinosa’s relentless visuals and set pieces.
Despite its occasional lapses in logic, Espinosa delivers an intense sci-fi that’s worth checking out.
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