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.
