An alien life form wreaks havoc on a crew aboard the International Space Station, resulting in mayhem, death, and explosions, in this science fiction horror film.
Nothing is ever going to top Alien, right? It was one of the first of its kind and it set the bar way too high for most any film to live up to its standards, try as they might. She rightfully so. Alien is quite possibly one of the best science fiction horror films ever made, even 50 years on. Yet somehow, without feeling like it gave all that much effort to do so, Life manages to rival the feeling of Alien through virtually the same plotline, with enough new touches and nuances to stand out as an enjoyable Alien wannabe. Yeah, I was shocked, too.
Giving a large bulk of the credit to Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese for conjuring up a fresh spin on a tired storyline, it’s undeniable that the shadow of Alien looms large, which is something they managed to embrace rather than evade. And thanks to Daniel Espinosa’s tense direction, with tight frames, sequences of intense terror, and heartrending emotional connections to the characters by interspersed moments of tenderness and backstory. Which is where Life excels most; it makes you give a shit, and then makes you regret it.
This is all thanks to a stellar cast of magnanimous actors, regardless of how big or small their part may be. Without spoilers, one major star is killed off in a disturbingly sad scene that introduces us to just how dangerous this lifeform is, and from there the tension never lets up. Props to the always fantastic Rebecca Ferguson for being the most fleshed out and relatable character, Miranda North, and to Jake Gyllenhaal for being the exact bookend to her with his nihilistic and jaded David Jordan. Ryan Reynolds is of course an immediate favorite amongst the crew of misfit personalities as the comedic relief, Hiroyuki Sanada is wonderful as always while also being quite possibly the most tragic, and Ariyon Bakare is fantastic as the fantastically diverse representation of a disabled character who endears you from frame one. The rest of the cast is wonderful, too, even as obvious fodder for our little alien lifeform.
But none of this would’ve worked if not for an incredible amount of work from the CGI department, though. It’s rare to see effects that look so realistic on a creature that doesn’t actually exist on our planet, and since even the slightest bit of janky rendering or misaligned lighting can make or break the entire film, it’s a miraculous feat that this alien seriously looks like it was present on set. And as a bonus, the design is both unsettling and weirdly kinda cute in a way. Or maybe I’m just demented.
With an ending that’ll leave you sickened and a deliciously vile modus operandi for Calvin the “definitely not a xenomorph” alien, Life will find a way into your heart and mind. Whether you want it to or not.