Horror is only a by-product

Rating: Null/10 (26 March 2017)

Following the trend of one-simple-word-title spaces sci-fi (Gravity, Passenger, Arrival), "Life" lives up to the character of its predecessors as a thought-provoking movie appealing to the intellect. In other words, comparison to the Alien series is misplaced. While I have no intention of undermining Alien, the fact remains that it appeals to the audience's senses and instincts, with an accent on horror. Not lacking in vomit-inducing scenes, "Life" nevertheless is not guilty of contrivances to that end. Everything shown on the screen happen for a natural reason.
The story is simple, as shown in the somewhat lengthy establishing scenes that appear before the title "LIFE" appears on the screen. The stage is an international space station that is an elaborated construction outside, and a variety of environments form narrow connecting tunnels to spacious control rooms. The crew of six is international, as evidences from how English is spoken: absolutely exotic Russian accent, normal American spoken with no noticeable difference between the American members and the sole Japanese member (undoubtedly educated in the US), and beautiful Queen's English. The mission is to collect samples from Mars, with lofty aspirations (from at least some member) that life forms, if found, may evolve into something that renders stem cells obsolete. When a single-cell organism was indeed found, the crew was ecstatic.
At this juncture, an introduction to the six crew members, and the actors who play them. The captain is a Russian woman, mild mannered and soft spoken as played by little-known (at least in Hollywood) Olga Dihovichnaya. Not a leader by forceful presence, she is later proved to be a leader by example. The only other woman, as well as possessor of the beautiful diction, is Miranda North, the authority on "Disease Control and Prevention". She has been instrumental to the governing protocol in all matters concerning this field and also doubles up as the crew doctor. Rebecca Ferguson is best known as the latest leading lady in the "Mission Impossible" franchise (British secret agent Ilsa Faust acting opposite to Tom Cruise). As Miranda North, she displays both sides of the character: the caring nature of a medical doctor and the stern control of a protocol officer holding the line of defence against the catastrophe of something deadly from outer space reaching earth.
The two in the movie star category are both male. Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds play two professional astronauts with markedly different personas. The former, David Jordan, is introvert who finds himself completely at home in space, away from the hateful humanity. Rory Adams is outgoing, even bit reckless sometimes, never shying away from giving you a piece of his mind. The remaining two members are visible minorities. Black and British, Ariyon Bakare plays Hugh Derry, a dedicated scientist who believes that finding life form in Mars may mean salvation of Earth from all disease. Japanese participation in this project is represented by engineer Sho Murakami who was showing with pride on an I-pad to team members his new born baby, a heart-warming portrayal of a loving family man. Perfectly cast is Hiroyuki Sanada who was deeply touching in the portrayal of "The Twilight Samurai" (2002).
I am not going to spoil your fun by saying too much. As mentioned earlier, similarity with Alien is more superficial than real. "Life" is good science fiction first and foremost and we see horror only when it is a necessary part of the plot. We "Calvin" (named by the celebrating people on Earth) grow from a tiny life form clinging to one's fingertip to what looks like the beautiful hybrid between an orchid and a bauhinia, and finally to a human -size, sinister looks squid-form. There is nothing outrageously unpredictable in how Calvin grows and terrorises the six people in the space station. And it does not take much to see what is coming, the final choice between self-sacrifice and running the risk of Calvin coming to Earth. But then, it is nowhere near being paint-by-number, in simple things like the order of dying (which in almost all case would be related to salary of the actor, for one thing).
I have already said too much. This movie is not easy entertainment. For the appreciative audience, however, it is well worth seeing.