Thursday, October 24, 2013

October 24: Europa Report (2013 -- Sebastián Cordero)

★★

Europa Report is not the low-budget, concept, sci-fi film of the summer in the tradition of Gattaca, Moon or Never Let Me Go.  Instead, it’s a predictable procession through the sequential demise of the members of the crew of a spaceship heading to Jupiter’s moon, Europa.  It’s an old formula, I think most recently used successfully in 1979 by Ridley Scott in Alien.

Director Sebastián Cordero spices the formula with some jittery camera and lots of partial views of the threat, but even this variation mostly owes its predecessor, Cloverfield.  All the fuzzy transmissions, soundtrack static, flashbacks, flashforwards, and unsteady cameras ultimately annoy more than engage. 

Not among my anticipated films of the summer, Europa Report still disappoints.  It should fit in well with the fare on Syfy when it finally lands there.

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