Today’s quick review: Human Lost. Years in the future, humanity has attained immortality through its link to the SHELL system. But a dark fate awaits those who detach from the system: transformation into destructive mutants known as Lost. Yozo Oba (Austin Tindle), a troubled painter, awakens to his destiny when he transforms into a Lost while keeping his humanity. Now Yozo must decide whether to protect the SHELL system or burn it to the ground.
Human Lost is a Japanese CGI-animated sci-fi action movie. Human Lost is set in a future Japan where the longevity of an elite few renders the rest of the population functionally immortal, at the cost of living and toiling in a polluted world. Masao Horiki (Rob McCollum), an outsider with ties to the Lost, threatens to destroy the system entirely, even as Yoshiko Hiiragi (Macy Anne Johnson) seeks to save it, with Yozo caught painfully in the middle.
Human Lost invests heavily in its world and story. The movie weaves in exposition with its action until the setting is detailed enough to support the story it’s trying to tell. The movie examines the nature of society and mortality in a world where death isn’t permanent, falling short of deep insight but certainly scratching the sci-fi itch. The plot is complex and builds on itself nicely, although its logic begins to fall apart near the end.
Human Lost delivers on spectacle as well. The visuals are a step up from Polygon Pictures’ previous work, offsetting their stiff CGI animation with dynamic camerawork, interesting character designs, and a much improved use of color. The action is another big draw, with elaborate fights involving the monstrous Lost and a suitable degree of violence. The action scales up surprisingly towards the end, though, like the plot, it loses some cohesion.
Human Lost will appeal to fans who want their sci-fi to have a balance of spectacle and speculation. Neither side of the film works well enough to carry it alone, but together they’re enough to give sci-fi fans plenty to chew on. Sticklers for writing that’s meaningful, coherent, or original writing may want to steer clear, though. Human Lost has a lot to offer, but it lacks the focus, payoff, and depth of more visionary films.
For far-flung sci-fi in a similar vein from the same studio, try Blame!. For a more thematic sci-fi classic set in a similar world, try Akira or Ghost in the Shell. For an action-oriented CGI-animated science fiction movie from Japan, try Appleseed, Appleseed Ex Machina, or Vexille. For one with more detailed animation and a more horrific tone, try Gantz: O. For more speculation about a controlled future, try Logan’s Run or Minority Report.
5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a rich sci-fi world, vivid visuals, and a healthy dose of action, tempered by a few imperfections.