With a stellar cast in a classic sci-fi horror premise, and a plethora fan theories already flooding the Internet, Life has a lot to live up to... and it nails it in exhilarating fashion from start to brutal finish.
David Jordan (Jake Gyllenhaal) in Columbia Pictures' LIFE. | © Sony Pictures
David Jordan (Jake Gyllenhaal) in Columbia Pictures’ LIFE. | © Sony Pictures
A team of scientists on board the International Space Station intercept a probe returning from Mars with the aim of conducting research on something found on the surface. To much fanfare back on Earth, the team discover a single cell organism and give it the name CALVIN.
Under a microscope, Hugh Derry (Ariyon Bakare) becomes fascinated by the discovery and its rapidly evolving …show more content…
From Alien to Gravity, the vast emptiness of space offers its own rules and permutations that give a different take that audiences seem to lap up. It would be easy, as Gravity ended up doing, to rely on this hook to drive the narrative. The Sandra Bullock movie certainly deserved plaudits for its breathtaking visual effects, but on reflection, the episodic nature of the plot was lacking.
Ryan Reynolds in 'Life' | © Sony Pictures
Ryan Reynolds in ‘Life’ | © Sony Pictures
Espinosa, who has previously made thrillers like Safe House (with Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds), gets to add a horror element thanks to the alien on board. This idea may not be original, with plenty of references to John Carpenter’s The Thing (especially in a nerve-shredding sequence involving a petri dish), but everything is enhanced with a flourish and panache that elevates what could have otherwise been a predictable genre film.
The setting is a close approximation of the present day, and the characters react in an entirely relatable manner. From bravery to apparent cowardice, nothing is delivered in a hammy way. Reynolds gets to shine early on, and as the film progresses we get to see more from the supporting characters as well standout turns from Ferguson and in particular
David Jordan (Jake Gyllenhaal) in Columbia Pictures' LIFE. | © Sony Pictures
David Jordan (Jake Gyllenhaal) in Columbia Pictures’ LIFE. | © Sony Pictures
A team of scientists on board the International Space Station intercept a probe returning from Mars with the aim of conducting research on something found on the surface. To much fanfare back on Earth, the team discover a single cell organism and give it the name CALVIN.
Under a microscope, Hugh Derry (Ariyon Bakare) becomes fascinated by the discovery and its rapidly evolving …show more content…
From Alien to Gravity, the vast emptiness of space offers its own rules and permutations that give a different take that audiences seem to lap up. It would be easy, as Gravity ended up doing, to rely on this hook to drive the narrative. The Sandra Bullock movie certainly deserved plaudits for its breathtaking visual effects, but on reflection, the episodic nature of the plot was lacking.
Ryan Reynolds in 'Life' | © Sony Pictures
Ryan Reynolds in ‘Life’ | © Sony Pictures
Espinosa, who has previously made thrillers like Safe House (with Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds), gets to add a horror element thanks to the alien on board. This idea may not be original, with plenty of references to John Carpenter’s The Thing (especially in a nerve-shredding sequence involving a petri dish), but everything is enhanced with a flourish and panache that elevates what could have otherwise been a predictable genre film.
The setting is a close approximation of the present day, and the characters react in an entirely relatable manner. From bravery to apparent cowardice, nothing is delivered in a hammy way. Reynolds gets to shine early on, and as the film progresses we get to see more from the supporting characters as well standout turns from Ferguson and in particular