Being locked in a small, confined space with five other people doesn’t sound like a good time in a normal situation. It is likely even more stressful if that space is in outer space, so you can’t really escape. For the astronauts in Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s and writer Nick Shafir’s film I.S.S., that tension gets ramped up as their allegiances are put to the test.
Dr. Kira Foster (Ariana DeBose) is joining the crew of the International Space Station for the first time, joined by fellow American astronauts Christian Campbell (John Gallagher Jr.) and Gordon Barrett (Chris Messina), as well as Russian astronauts Weronika Vetrov (Masha Mashkova), Nicholai Pulov (Costa Ronin), and Alexey Pulov (Pilou Asbæk). The normal tensions of sharing space and living in zero gravity are heightened when the tensions between the two countries flare back on Earth.
An immediately impressive element of I.S.S. is how real the floating of the actors looks and feels throughout the movie. The idea of having six people living in zero gravity for the entirety of a story is not an easy one to pull off. In a smaller film, it could have been an element they simply wrote off as some science-fiction yada yada yada to make it easier. But the cast and Cowperthwaite didn’t take the easy route, and it paid off. Not only does it feel like they’re in space, but it creates some challenges for the characters to overcome when things really get going.
The scariest part of the film is how grounded in the moment it feels. There is a lot of tension between the US and Russia in reality right now, and this story preys on the fear produced by it. Then, the idea of loyalty and trust becomes paramount in the tight quarters. The characters had solidarity because of their love of science, but there is also the love of country to grapple with. Shafir’s script builds the tension without making things feel melodramatic. The characters feel like real people, and their actions all seem to make logical sense – which makes it all the more stressful.
There are a few set pieces in the film that truly stand out. One in particular features Messina’s character going out for a spacewalk to repair an antenna. It’s after the initial wave of concern for what’s going on back on the surface, which is a crazy backdrop as he shuffles along. That scene gradually has the tension ratcheted up, as one thing after another goes wrong. It’s an intense moment among a few others that makes the film a memorable one.
I.S.S. is a solid thriller full of great performances, whose set-up is a little too close to reality. However, its focus is on the people in the room, and for this reason, it works. When considering the big picture of things, the stakes for this film feel a little low overall – but the audience should be invested in the well-being of the characters.
I.S.S. will be in select theaters on January 19.
Rating: Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy
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