This epic film is a 2017 American sci-fi-horror written by creative duo Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, known for co-writing and co-producing 2013’s American military sci-fi action G.I. Joe: Retaliation, 2016 & 2018 American Marvel Superhero films, Deadpool (1&2). Life was directed by Daniel Espinosa who is famous for directing 2012’s American action-thriller, Safe House.
Another one of my favourite genres: science fiction! Such films are usually set in the future, which explains the advanced technology. I do enjoy the creative license, as long as the creators are able to spin something interesting, entertaining, and captivating with it. Does the film Life embody all these three in its yarn? Let’s see, shall we?
An International Space Station in earth’s orbit intercepts a space probe that has just returned from planet Mars. The Space Station crew is excited as the space probe is carrying soil samples that might contain evidence of extra-terrestrial life forms. Members of the six-man crew include: Russia’s Ekaterina Golovkina – ISS Mission Commander (Olga Dihovichnaya), UK’s Dr Hugh Derry – ISS Exobiologist (Ariyon Bakare), Japan’s Sho Murakami – ISS System’s Engineer & Pilot (Hiroyuki Sanada), USA’s Rory Adams – ISS Engineer (Ryan Reynold), USA’s Dr David Jordan – ISS Medical Officer (Jake Gyllenhaal), and UK’s Dr Miranda North – CDC Quarantine Officer (Rebecca Ferguson).
After retrieving the samples, Exobiologist, Dr Derry sets to work and is able to stimulate a dormant cell back to life. On further investigation, he discovers that the organism is multi-celled. Its cells can mutate into three specialisations all at the same time: neurons, muscle and photosensory cells. This strange new life form looks so adorable, and every member of the crew is enthralled by it. The fascinating new discovery is communicated to earth, who then celebrate this rare life from another planet. It prompted the American government to grant a selected school the honour of naming the creature. The school children name the life form Calvin.
Now call me a kill joy, but I’m going to have to be the party pooper and burst your bubble by raining on your parade and putting a dampener on things…. Yes, that’s right. Something goes wrong… as they usually do in films like this. While Dr Derry is performing more research on Calvin, it manages to grab hold of his hand, crush it, and then knocks him unconscious. This immediately puts the crew on high alert, especially when Calvin escapes the lab pod he had been enclosed in. Incidentally, it finds one of the experimental lab rats, consumes it and then grows in size. All hell breaks loose on the space station. Calvin wasn’t some docile innocent life form; it was smart, it was menacing, it was vicious, and it was in attack mode… hunting them.. one by one.
All six crew members have to use their expertise and skills to try to outsmart the extremely intelligent, dangerous, and ambitiously combatant Calvin in order to, not only survive, but also protect earth from the devastation and destruction it was capable of unleashing and was bound to unleash.
Already, you see a brilliant cast of actors who have made a name for themselves in the movie and blockbuster industry. I can assure you, they all lived up to their reputations in this film. Quite a captivating story and an engaging plot. It’s full of anticipation, suspense, excitement, and it even has the expected scare factor. The filming was incredible, the special effects were amazing, and the CGI was so real. Great screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
It’s one of those films that got away when it was first released; not many people have watched it or even know It exists. Yet, it still managed to do super well in the box office. It was very interesting, and I was entertained from start to finish. Life is definitely a finely spun yarn of science fiction. Rating? 10 out of 10.
Currently available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Further Information
Screenwriter
Screenwriter
Director
Played Ekaterina Golovkina (ISS Mission Commander, Russia)
Played Dr Hugh Derry (ISS Exobiologist USA)
Played Sho Murakami (ISS Systems Engineer, Japan)
Played Rory Adams (ISS Engineer, USA)
Played Dr David Jordan (ISS Medical Officer, USA)
Played Dr Miranda North (CDC Quarantine Officer, UK)
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