Today’s quick review: The Titan. As the Earth faces overpopulation and environmental catastrophe, Rick Janssen (Sam Worthington) volunteers for a risky procedure that will adapt his body to the harsh conditions found on Saturn’s moon Titan, making him one of the first colonists of another world. But as the treatment takes its emotional and physical toll, his wife Abigail (Taylor Schilling) suspects that her husband is becoming something other than human.
The Titan is a science fiction drama about human potential, genetic experimentation, and the sacrifices necessary to colonize other worlds. The Titan takes a close, personal look at the question of interplanetary colonization. The story follows Rick and his family through his harrowing transformation, capturing their transition from optimism to uncertainty and fear as the treatment begins to produce unexpected side effects.
The Titan’s greatest strength is its story. The film dabbles in familiar science fiction themes, but its focus on Rick’s family gives it a unique angle. The worries Abigail and their son face mirror those faced by the families of real-world soldiers and pioneers, helping to keep the story grounded even as Rick becomes less and less human. The movie’s deliberate storytelling style and tight control over its tone result in a thoughtful and cohesive story.
Still, The Titan’s plot and characters are merely workmanlike. The movie follows through on its premise cleanly and competently, but there are no iconic moments, profound lines of dialogue, or truly moving characters to take it to the next level. The film’s dark tone, slow pacing, and traces of body horror make it a harder watch than the usual sci-fi drama without letting it reap the benefits of a true suspense or horror movie.
The Titan also lacks the payoff it should have. The plot takes a peculiar turn near the end, one that follows logically from the build-up but feels like a departure from what the movie has been up until that point. The ending wraps up the story but does little more, offering only the faintest hints at reconciliation. The colonization mission itself is almost nonexistent, placing the focus on the somewhat more mundane matter of Rick’s transformation.
Dedicated science fiction fans will appreciate the themes The Titan explores, but most others will be put off by its heavy tone, lack of action, and focus on personal drama. From a story perspective, The Titan’s script is not quite strong enough to hold together its unique combination of speculation, drama, and suspense. Give it a shot if you are interested in what the movie gets right, but skip it if you’re looking for a complete package.
For a science fiction drama with less suspense and a much better grasp of the personal side of its story, try Gattaca. For a colonization mission with a heavy dramatic component but without the genetic engineering, check out Interstellar.
4.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent sci-fi that doesn’t fully pull together its pieces; your score will vary.