Director Daniel Espinosa
Genre Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Cast Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, Hiroyuki Sanada
Rating R
Release Date March 24th, 2017
“A team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discover a rapidly evolving life form, that caused extinction on Mars, and now threatens the crew and all life on Earth.”
Life is a sci-fi thriller from director Daniel Espinosa, the man who brought us Safe House and Child 44. The film is said to be inspired by Alien, which released in 1979. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, and Hiroyuki Sanada. Ryan Reynolds was slated to play a bigger role in the film, but due to scheduling conflicts with The Hitman's Bodyguard he and Gyllenhaal essentially switched roles. This is also the first film to feature the two actors together.
Offering a stellar cast and a genuine thrill factor, Life is a sci-fi experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The first few trailers had me unsure as to what type of movie this was going to be, but once the final trailer released it was clear this was a true thriller in the sci-fi genre. Taking place entirely on the spaceship during an expedition to try and discover life on Mars, it can feel a bit limiting at times in terms of scope. Luckily, great directing and a stellar cast ensure the final product never even gets close to mediocrity. I expected a bit more in terms of backstory on the characters, but the route they decided to take worked. You learn enough about them to genuinely care for their well-being but nothing more, and that's fine. Life is built on the tense moments and the believability of life or death circumstances, and it all feels very, very real. This is one of the better sci-fi films I've seen in a while in terms of the overall impact it had on me. It’s very much an experience that will have you gritting your teeth in anticipation right up until the very end. Life may seem to be predictable at times, but trust me when I say it's all a front. It WILL catch you by surprise.
Life has an incredibly talented cast, that fact is simply undeniable. Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds are two of the most sought after actors in Hollywood today, and two of my personal favorites. The mix of screen time is a little uneven for the two stars but everyone has an opportunity to leave their mark. Ryan Reynolds is absolutely amazing as per usual, although it was a bit strange to see him in a role not cracking at least a few jokes. The other megastar Jake Gyllenhaal is fantastic as well, once again proving he is more than capable of expressing deep emotion in pretty much any role. Rebecca Ferguson performed quite well also but I found her character to be somewhat off putting (annoying really but off putting seemed more professional). All in all the stacked cast delivered on all fronts.
Life kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, and to be honest I may have even gripped the arm rests a time or two. The buildup is impressive in terms of overall pacing and it keeps the juices flowing. Although somewhat linear, Life has unique depth that warrants a viewing, so I recommend checking this one out sooner than later, if you haven't already.
