"Are we alone in the universe?" A question that has become a premise for hundreds of Hollywood films, some which turned out to be great (for example 2001: A Space Odyssey) and others that aren't even worth mentioning in this post.
Fortunately, Europa Report is in the 'great' category. A space thriller set not long in the future after present time, the film chronicles the first privatized manned expedition to Jupiter's moon Europa - which has long been an object of speculation and mystery among astronomers and astronauts alike. In fact, modern-day astrophysicists have gone as far as to say that life on Europa is almost certain.
Director Sebastián Cordero wastes no time in letting the film's intentions known at the very start. Europa Report is another example of the found-footage style but it doesn't take itself too seriously because of the added documentary style. They work so well together that the transitions between interviews and what's actually going on aboard the Europa One spacecraft are almost seamless if not a little jumpy.
Europa Report isn't perfect. It's short, clocking in only 90 mins, things seem to happen a little too rapidly. Nonetheless, we are introduced to the characters properly so as to feel for them when a calamity strikes. Think of the movie as The Blair Witch Project + Moon.
There is an unmissable sense of dread and claustrophobia that one will feel while watching Europa Report, followed by an unexpectedly creepy surprise at the end. There's almost a bit of the Matrix in here, let's just say.
No comments:
Post a Comment