Life

An unexpectedly (and impressively) grim little thriller, Life follows a team of scientists aboard the International Space Station as they must fight for their lives after an alien creature becomes increasingly hostile. It’s worth noting that Life improves steadily as it progresses, with the slick opening stretch unable to capture the viewer’s interest or attention – as filmmaker Daniel Espinosa delivers an admittedly authentic-seeming atmosphere that’s hindered by a lack of fully-formed characters or a clear sense of purpose. There’s little doubt, then, that the picture begins its slow-but-steady ascent into engrossing territory with an almost shockingly unsettling crew death, after which point Life transforms into a blisteringly-paced horror flick rife with stirring, brutal sequences – with the surviving characters’ consistently ineffective attempts at battling the creature lending the proceedings a palpably hopeless vibe. The eclectic cast, which includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, and Rebecca Ferguson, ably steps into the shoes of their respective (and increasingly horrified) characters, while Espinosa generally does an effective job of ramping up the inherent claustrophobia of the situation as time progresses. And although the movie hits a bit of a lull in the buildup to its climax, Life closes with a jaw-droppingly bleak finale that packs an impressive punch – which ultimately secures the movie’s place as an erratic yet often engaging piece of work.

*** out of ****