Today’s quick review: IO. Sam Walden (Margaret Qualley), the daughter of scientist Harry Walden (Danny Huston), is one of the last humans left on Earth after an environmental catastrophe that poisoned the atmosphere and killed off most animal life. With the last shuttle to the human colony orbiting Io leaving in just a few days, Sam must decide whether to continue her father’s research on Earth or leave with Micah (Anthony Mackie) for a new world.
IO is a budget science fiction drama about a young woman left by herself on a dying planet. The story centers on the question of whether to give up on Earth or pursue a desperate, likely futile quest to see it reborn. IO has a well-drawn setting, interesting themes, and a fair amount of grounded, scientific speculation. However, its slow pacing and uneventful plot mean that there is almost no reward for investing in its world.
IO is better at setting up its story than seeing it through. The Earth shown in the film is portrayed modestly but effectively, a lonely, desolate place with isolated pockets of beauty. The film takes great care to show Sam’s routine, her research, and her attempts to rekindle life capable of surviving in the toxic atmosphere. For their part, Sam and Micah are credible characters, behaving in responsible but human ways in a taxing situation.
But IO has nowhere to go with its setup. The sole question of note is whether Sam will give up on the Earth, and even then the question is ambiguous enough that neither answer is satisfying. There’s no hope of a magic cure to save the Earth and no gleaming paradise to flee to, meaning that there’s no payoff for all the time the movie spends mulling over the question. The plot has very little going on; even its one or two plot twists change nothing.
Fans of the moody, thoughtful side of the sci-fi genre may want to give IO a shot. Its moody atmosphere and intellectual writing make it one of the more grounded budget sci-fi movies out there. However, IO has almost no story to speak of it, just the slow reiteration of themes the movie has already explored. IO has fine craftsmanship but little to recommend it. The majority of viewers would be better off looking elsewhere for their sci-fi fix.
For a grander adventure with a similar premise, try Interstellar. For a science-heavy tale of survival in an even harsher environment, try The Martian. For a low-key sci-fi movie with much of the same melancholy, check out Another Earth.
4.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for a decent setup but precious little plot.