Destroyer of Worlds

Rating: 8/10 (26 March 2017)

"Alien" is nearly 40 years old. It was such innovative and strong idea, both visually and as a concept that it has spawned a few sequels and prequels. Some came close to the originals; others were interesting ideas that weren't fully developed. "Life" arrives, clearly inspired by the "Alien" franchise. The best it can offer is an interesting and formidable new species, not as striking as the "Alien" monsters, yet it is quite a unstoppable force, and it doesn't give the crew much of a chance to fight back.
It becomes clear from the beginning that providing a source of nutrients and energy to the "martian" is probably not a good idea. It soon becomes apparent that these scientists were not prepared to deal with an experiment of the kind. Many theories are discussed, and one can see a few of the members of the crew dream of instant fame. It never occurs to anyone that the new passenger might have an agenda of its own.
"Calvin" grows fast, adapts easily, and develops a taste for killing anything that might be a block to its survival. Although it never says a word or tries to communicate, the message is clear: You don't have a chance because I'm deadly and quite smart. The lesson to be learned is that you'd better leave what you don't understand alone.
The creature is not the most impressive when one finally gets to see it. It might be a little too beautiful to inspire terror. Its actions show otherwise, and suspense is effectively shown with the editing and lighting of the sets. It helps that Reynolds and the rest of the cast give believable performances, but something is missing. Yes, there's a threat, there is a nasty being, and the odds don't look too good for any of the humans aboard the ship. What's lacking is the sense of mystery and raw fear we had in the source of inspiration. No one knew what was going on. The goal was to survive, but dark passages and something that looks like it came straight from hell really sent shivers down everybody's spine. Through all its growth stages, one didn't want to think of anything else but survival. There were no technical or scientific explanations. One attacked, and the others ran for as long as they could.
In "Life", this life form is clearly misunderstood, even in its early stages. There are moments where logic disappeared. Other stories have shown that we fear even the smallest of beings, with viruses coming to mind. Why are the doctors so blind to taking the necessary precautions to deal with "Calvin" when it begins to show signs of maladjustment? Everyone seems to forget that poking any unknown creature might most likely result in some aggressive reaction.
The film is entertaining, but it is dark, and one never feels completely engaged by anyone in the crew. Somehow we can't relate to people who haven't really defined or understood the basic rules of life's development. Did they ever read Darwin? It's best to turn off your mind and be ready for two hours of illogical but thrilling fun.