The time is in the not-too-distant future--2063. With the future of the human race in danger, a group of 30 young men and women, bred for enhanced intelligence and to suppress emotional impulses, embark on an 86 year, multi-generational expedition to colonize a distant planet. But when three of them discover disturbing secrets about the mission, they, namely Christopher (Tye Sheridan), Sela (Lily-Rose Depp) and Zac (Fionn Whitehead), confront their chief leader, Richard (Colin Farrell) of their findings, and end up ultimately defying their training and begin to explore their most primal natures. As life on the ship descends into chaos, they're consumed by fear, lust, and the hunger for power. As this continues, none are not realizing if the real threat here that they face is what's outside the ship or who they're becoming inside it.
Others to round out the cast are Archie Madekwe as Kai, Isaac Hempstead Wright as Edward, Quintessa Swindell as Julie, Chante Adams as Phoebe, Viveik Kalda as Peter, Madison Hu as Anda and Wern Lee as Tayo.
This was intensely directed by Neil Burger ("Interview with the Assassin" '02, "The Illusionist" '06, "The Lucky Ones" '07, "Limitless" '11, "The Asset" (TV movie) '12, "Divergent" '14, "The Jury" (TV movie) '16, "The Upside" '17) plus TV. As with this filmmaker's resume, not only can he work with young adults ("Divergent"), but he certainly knows how to helm dramatic films that have a bit of a twist to them, using interesting characters to convey to the audience who he is he attempting to show us. If his style of directing intrigues you, his "The Marsh King's Daughter" is in pre-production. This was also cleverly written by Burger ("Interview with the Assassin" '02, "The Illusionist" '06, "The Lucky Ones" '07). Certainly directing is where this filmmaker has put more of his energy, however with only three other films to his credit, this film is well thought out if one can go deeper than simply what meets the eye. As I'm viewing this film, I just couldn't help but think of the novel, "Lord of the Flies" 1954 by William Golding, and its subsequent films of the same name, both 1963 and 1990. Basically, Lord of the Flies was about a group of English prep school boys that ended up on an uncharted island, where, slowly their proper side of them ultimately ended up with them turning to primal, savage instincts. As with this novel by Golding, the same could be said for this film, in that it's amazing how humans can change given a totally different environment and, without them fully realizing it, can revert to their basic, raw, animalistic ways, especially when their routines and comforts are removed. This film was the same as Lord of the Flies. This film was only a futuristic, glossy version with an outer space backdrop. This aspect is what truly made this interesting much more than the obvious storyline at hand. If you like Burger's brand of writing, his "Bride of Frankenstein" has been announced.
If you like a film that not only is suspenseful, but is a thriller, and that has a sociological, well developed character study feel about it, you'll definitely like this. All the characters were believable in this and it definitely had good and bad guys which will keep one riveted to their theater seat.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 108mins.
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