Wanna know where I’ve been? Busy. Mostly with a production, but sometimes, with Netflix. Here’s a movie I found last year that just popped up again on my watch list, due to a potential sequel. So let me tell you all about it, after the break. But beware possible spoilers.
This is a fantastic but of sci-fi IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO. A lot of people were infuriated by the marketing campaign, which mostly sold it as a giant monster action thriller. See the trailer below:
As you can guess, many people were pulled in by the promise of terror and went to see it, but were disappointed by the actual movie. Here’s why:
THE MOVIE ISN’T A GIANT MONSTER ACTION THRILLER.
More accurately, it’s a philosophical character piece which follows two people falling in love in the middle of dire circumstances. If you go in expecting that, then the movie is utterly fantastic.
Yes, there are giant aliens, but they don’t dominate the screentime at all. Quite the contrary. But when they are seen, they’re pretty cool, like bioluminescent land octopi…or dodecapi…there’s more than eight…the point is, the CGI is done well.
The script, the direction, and the cinematography themselves deserve awards. The movie wonders to itself whether the creatures are the true monsters, or we are. And that in itself is worth watching.
Another thing that attracts me to this movie is that it (mostly) doesn’t take place in the United States. Its portrayal of Mexico is well balanced. These are actual people, not just caricatures written in for fun.
The actors were not picked from the ranks of Hollywood celebs that we would all instantly recognize. They too, did a phenomenal job, carrying the movie forward, because it was in fact all about their characters and relationships.
Obviously, I was very impressed. Watch it yourself and form your own opinions, currently on Netflix instant.
– JV out.
The Red Shirt Crew Blog and Podcast Network 