Today’s quick review: Life. As the crew of the International Space Station (Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Ariyon Bakare, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Olga Dihovichnaya) process soil samples returned by a Mars probe, they make a momentous scientific discovery: a single-celled organism. But when the organism begins to replicate and show signs of intelligence, the crew must find a way to neutralize it before it can break containment.
Life is a sci-fi survival horror movie set aboard the International Space Station. Six astronauts are trapped with Calvin, a starfish-like alien with a versatile cellular structure, cunning intelligence, and terrifying strength. Before the horror kicks in, Life serves up a semi-realistic depiction of life in space and the procedures for first contact with an alien species. The interactions of the cast and attention to detail are its best features.
But Life has a harder time with its horror. The crux of the problem is Calvin, a plausible design for an alien organism that lacks the stage presence to hold the film together. Calvin may be inhuman and deadly, but it’s also small and comprehensible, more of a dangerous pest than the cryptic threat the movie wants it to be. Life’s plot progression exacerbates the problem, a flat series of skirmishes with no true climax to build to.
In spite of these weaknesses, Life has the makings of a viable thriller. Its realistic setting, well-rounded cast, and tense build-up all serve it well, while Calvin manages to pull off enough unnerving tricks to make the movie worthwhile. Life misses some of its potential; there are similar movies that hit harder and have more memorable creatures. But what it does have to offer may be worth a peek for fans of the grounded side of the genre.
For a much more effective take on a similar setup, try Alien. For a tense sci-fi thriller set in space, try Sunshine. For a realistic look at space exploration gone wrong, try Gravity or The Martian. For an even more unnerving sci-fi horror movie, try Annihilation.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a workable setup with a weak follow-through.