The 2017 film Life, directed by Daniel Espinosa, is a horror, sci-fi thriller that takes us on an eerie ride aboard the International Space Station. Let's dive deep into this movie review and see if it's among the best sci-fi movies or just another space oddity!
So here's the scoop—the plot revolves around a group of scientists who discover what can only be described as a Martian nightmare. This rapidly evolving life form isn't just the galaxy's worst roommate; it's responsible for extinction on Mars and poses a threat to all life on Earth. Imagine 'Alien' meets 'The Martian,' but with fewer laughs and more gnarly space squids. This film definitely doesn't shy away from showing the interstellar horror of scientific discovery gone wrong.
When it comes to acting, you're in for a treat—or maybe a cosmic prank. You've got Ryan Reynolds in a role slightly veering off his usual charming wisecracks, though they peek through occasionally, giving the film a spark of humor amidst the suspense. Jake Gyllenhaal brings a brooding intensity that feels like 'Donnie Darko' went to astronaut school. Let's not forget Rebecca Ferguson who offers a convincing portrayal of a mission specialist whose life-or-death decisions resonate. And Hiroyuki Sanada, always a gem, adds that indispensable layer of professionalism and gravitas. The cinematography is slick and immersive, but sometimes I felt like the screenplay was trying too hard to be 'smart'—and it ended up being a jumbled mess of predictable tropes.
As I watched Life, my mind couldn't help but drift to the cinematic heavyweight 'Alien.' Ridley Scott's classic remains the standard for alien horror, with its airtight script and spine-tingling suspense. Life, while entertaining, falls short in creating a terrifyingly claustrophobic atmosphere. 'Gravity,' with its tension and visual brilliance, also pioneered in charting isolated life in space but with more narrative finesse. If you love a gooey monster movie, there's also the cult classic 'The Thing,' which, like Life, gleefully revels in taking paranoia and twisting it like a Rubik’s Cube.
If this kind of movie intrigues you, then Life is worth the ride; just don't expect to find groundbreaking cinema here. The genuine sci-fi horror vibes are real, even if some elements are as cliched as finding another Star Wars action figure at Comic-Con. If space adventures and survival thrillers are your thing, this movie is a must-watch film! So grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and prepare to be wonderfully unnerved. Because let's face it, sometimes it's fun to watch things go spectacularly wrong from the cozy safety of your couch!