A funtime movie

Rating: 5/10 (26 March 2017)

LIFE is a bumpy little thrill ride, much like the actual thing itself. With a small but top notch cast and a deviously menacing creature to boot, the movie is able to sustain interest and a sense of emergency despite resorting to certain genre tropes in order to keep the story going.
While the movie does take of slowly(no pun intended), it is able to establish tangible distinctions between its characters and convey a sense of purpose for each. The groundwork thus laid pays off handsomely when the thrills come running, and additionally, character deaths have more of an impact. Point being that the movie respects its characters enough to sketch them out before slashing them to pieces.
The evolution of the creature and its design were all very interesting. The little thing has a commendable screen presence and was as well fleshed out as most characters, which I would say is a good thing for this movie. I only wish the mystery as to the full capabilities of the creature had persisted throughout the runtime, instead of the mystery of its powers sizzling out to the game of hide and seek that finally ensues.
As with most movies, the movie squanders its potential in the final act, and while it isn't in any way bad, it does not at all help with giving itself a unique tone, theme or feel from other movies of the same genre. Another unremarkable aspect was the score, which is a very important tool in helping the movie find a vibe and signature entirely its own. Instead of utilizing silence or minimalist sounds to heighten the suspense and isolation that the characters felt, generic blockbuster music is busted out repeatedly for entire set- pieces, which while initially being effective soon turns cumbersome.
Ultimately this is a fun movie with acting and effects that fit the bill, and a vitality that defies the movie's best attempts to sabotage itself, and shines through for an end result that will leave you smiling.