Space. The final frontier. But what if that frontier fought back? In the vast cinema of space operas, few films explore the terrifying possibilities of extraterrestrial encounters. Enter 'Life', a 2017 sci-fi horror film that forces a crew of astronauts into a fight for survival against an alien organism. Is this movie a typical monster mash, or does it offer more? Let's dissect 'Life', focusing on its plot, creature, characters, and whether it’s a journey worth taking.
Plot Twists and That Unsettling Ending: Decoding 'Life'
Is 'Life' worth your movie-watching hours? Opinions vary. Some critics call it derivative, noting familiar sci-fi horror tropes. Think 'Alien' meets 'Gravity' under pressure. Some reviews mention a "run-of-the-mill outcome," hinting at a lack of originality. But don’t dismiss it yet. Many viewers praised 'Life' for its tense action, tight direction, and distinct B-movie spirit that leans into the fun of frights. While it may not reinvent the genre, 'Life' delivers a thrilling ride full of jump scares.
Now, let's discuss the ending. Forget typical Hollywood happy endings; 'Life' presents a finale as bleak as deep space. After battling the alien named Calvin, David (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Miranda (Rebecca Ferguson) face a grim choice. Earth is in danger if Calvin reaches it. Their solution? Two escape pods, two destinations. Miranda aims for the International Space Station, a quarantine zone. David’s mission is final; he volunteers to lure Calvin into his pod, sacrificing himself to save humanity. Heroic? Yes.
But horror takes a turn. During the escape pod launch, debris strikes Miranda’s pod, sending her spiraling into the abyss. David ejects his pod, hurtling towards... Earth. Here’s the twist: Calvin seizes control of David's arm, ensuring they head towards our unsuspecting blue planet. The final scene is gut-wrenching. A fishing boat in Vietnam spots David's escape pod bobbing in the ocean. Hope flickers... until the hatch opens. Instead of a relieved astronaut, a fisherman sees Calvin, beginning to devour David. Roll credits. The film ends on a note of chilling uncertainty. Calvin is on Earth, potential destruction unleashed, and humanity's fate hangs in the balance. No sequel baiting, just pure dread.
What about David's motivation? Initially, the plan seemed simple: pilot Calvin into space. But hints suggest darker undercurrents. Some interpretations argue David’s crash landing wasn’t accidental. Writers Reese and Wernick confirmed he *didn't* intend to crash. Gyllenhaal relished the ambiguity, suggesting his character might subconsciously want to bring Calvin to Earth. Was it curiosity? Acceptance of humanity's doom? Or a tragic outcome of desperation? The film leaves it open to interpretation, adding to the psychological complexity of the terrifying scenario.
So who survives? In terms of traditional survival, no one really wins in 'Life'. The Pilgrim 7 crew starts with six members, studying a Martian soil sample. Calvin evolves into a predator, raising the body count. Rory, Ekaterina, Hugh, Sho, and Miranda all fall prey to Calvin's deadly adaptations in gruesome ways. Ultimately, only David and Miranda are left, but Miranda is lost in space while David becomes Calvin's final meal ticket to Earth. So in 'Life', survival is an illusion. Calvin survives parasitically, threatening humanity's extinction. A truly unsettling victory for the alien and a devastating defeat for humankind.
Does 'Life' give you feel-good moments or a happy ending? Not at all. If you seek sunshine and rainbows in space, steer clear. 'Life' is a masterclass in dread that delivers gut punches. The ending is designed to unsettle you, making you ponder human existence's fragility in the unknown. It’s a chilling reminder that in the vast cosmos, happy endings are rare, and survival may come at a horrific cost.
You might wonder: why does 'Life' have an R rating? The answer is simple: it earns it. 'Life' isn't for the faint-hearted or the weak-stomached. It offers visceral horror without restraint. The R rating stems from "violence and terror throughout, and for language." To be specific, the violence isn't just jump scares; it's graphic and disturbing. We see characters meet their ends gruesomely. One poor soul is torn apart from within, with blood floating in zero gravity – a visually unsettling sight. Another character drowns in their spacesuit. And then there’s Calvin's predatory behavior, inherently violent and terrifying. The film doesn’t shy away from showing brutal confrontations with hostile lifeforms. So if you’re sensitive to gore and horror, 'Life' could be too... lively for you.
Let’s revisit the climax. What does Calvin do to David in those final moments? It’s not a quick kill; it's insidious and manipulative. As David pilots his pod into deep space, Calvin takes control of David’s arm, turning him into a puppet. This control redirects David’s pod towards Earth instead of away from it. Miranda’s damaged pod drifts off course into space debris. David's pod breaches Earth's atmosphere and splashes in the ocean. The agonizing final moments reveal Calvin inside the pod beginning to consume David. It’s a slow, horrifying process, suggesting Calvin eats and grows stronger from David’s flesh. The film leaves Calvin's ultimate fate ambiguous. We see it on Earth, starting its feast. But what happens next? Does it escape? Does it spread? The chilling lack of resolution heightens the horror, leaving audiences with unease and doom.
Calvin: More Than Just Your Average Space Monster
Who is Calvin? Beyond tentacles and teeth, what makes this creature tick? Calvin is the star or anti-star of 'Life'. He’s no generic monster; he's an evolving organism challenging our understanding of life itself. Formally, Calvin is an alien lifeform from Mars. Discovered in a soil sample by Pilgrim 7, Calvin starts as a dormant single cell—an innocuous discovery that quickly spirals into chaos. The name "Calvin," affectionately given by the crew, adds ironic humanity to something utterly alien and ultimately monstrous. It starkly contrasts the familiar name and the horrifying reality of the creature.
What turns this benign microbe into bloodthirsty terror? Initially, Calvin is not hostile. For 25 days aboard the station, he is more of an experiment than a threat. He grows,...
It reacts to stimuli. This is fascinating. Astronaut Hugh Derry, a paraplegic biologist, becomes attached to Calvin. Its biology intrigues him. Commander Katerina feels uneasy. Calvin develops quickly. On Day 25, an atmospheric incident alters the lab’s pressure. This change makes Calvin dormant. Curious, Hugh revives Calvin with electric shocks. Big mistake. Calvin reacts violently. The jolt awakens a survival instinct. It attacks Hugh, crushing his hand. Calvin transforms from a specimen to a threat. This highlights the risks of underestimating the unknown.
Calvin's attack on Hugh is the beginning. It escalates quickly, showing its predatory nature. It escapes its enclosure. Calvin moves through the lab facilities. It meets a rat intended for experiments. The rat bites Calvin in defense. This triggers predatory instincts. Instead of retreating, Calvin attacks. It consumes the rat entirely. This scene is significant for several reasons. It shows Calvin's growth through consuming biomass. It reveals its predatory instincts and lethal responses. Calvin's drive to survive and evolve makes it a formidable adversary.
Rory Adams becomes one of Calvin's memorable victims. In desperation, he uses a portable rocket thruster on it. It’s a risky attempt to contain the creature. Calvin proves resilient and cunning. Instead of burning, it seizes an opportunity. It latches onto Rory's leg, grasping it tightly. Before Rory reacts, Calvin attacks gruesomely. It invades Rory's mouth, consuming him from within. Calvin devours Rory alive, emphasizing its parasitic nature. This horrifying scene highlights Calvin's lethality. Emerging larger, it escapes through a fire-control vent. Rory's demise illustrates Calvin's efficient predatory methods.
Hugh Derry, once Calvin's champion, becomes a victim of obsession. After Calvin escapes quarantine, Hugh unknowingly helps it. Due to his condition, Hugh lacks sensation in his legs. Calvin uses this vulnerability to attach itself to him, slipping out of quarantine. The crew discovers Calvin’s presence when Hugh collapses from blood loss. Calvin has fed on Hugh, draining him. As Hugh dies, Sho Murakami attempts to escape by sealing himself in a pod. Yet even the pods offer no safety. Calvin relentlessly tries to break in, seeking threats and sustenance. Hugh’s fate underscores the dangers of underestimating Calvin’s evolution.
It’s ironic that the terrifying creature is named “Calvin.” The name comes from a space probe carrying Martian soil, meant to humanize the unknown. Dr. Miranda North explains, “We named it Calvin... after Coolidge.” This naming highlights human tendencies to anthropomorphize entities. While it makes the creature less threatening, "Calvin" becomes unsettling as its monstrous nature unfolds. The contrast enhances the film's atmosphere.
Where did this nightmare come from? Calvin's origins lie in Martian soil samples. Its design has surprising inspiration: Earth slime mold. Specifically, they based it on Dictyostelium discoideum, a slime mold capable of complex behaviors without a nervous system. This gives a degree of scientific plausibility to Calvin’s evolution. The filmmakers tapped into slime mold’s strangeness to create a terrifying alien threat. It reminds us that unsettling horrors often arise from real-world biology.
Fates and Fortunes: The Crew's Grim Destinies
Let's face it: 'Life' isn’t a story of survival. It’s a tragedy, a descent into horror. The crew of Pilgrim 7, filled with hope, faces casualties in Calvin's life cycle. Let’s recap the gruesome ends of some crew members.
Rory Adams suffers one of the most horrifying deaths in the film. He is "absorbed from within by Calvin." This is not a quick end; it’s a violation that leaves a lasting impression of horror.
Ekaterina Golovkina, mission commander, meets her end in space. She is "drowned in her spacesuit while being strangled by Calvin." Trapped, she succumbs to Calvin’s assault in space’s harsh environment.
Dr. Hugh Derry, whose curiosity unleashed Calvin’s potential, dies slowly. He "bled to death when Calvin absorbed his leg." His fascination was his downfall. This irony warns of the dangers of scientific hubris and the unknown.
David Jordan meets a disturbing fate. He is consumed by Calvin, becoming its ticket to Earth. His sacrifice turns into failure, resulting in catastrophe. David's ending revolves around the weight of defeat and Calvin's potential arrival on Earth.
Why does David appear melancholic before the crisis erupts? The mention of biblical struggles seems off-topic. We should focus on David Jordan's character and motivations in 'Life.' The film doesn't elaborate on his backstory, but we see aspects from his actions. He seems detached and weary from isolation and confinement.
His willingness to sacrifice himself suggests resignation or underlying sadness. However, attributing this to depression based on biblical references is a stretch. David's feelings likely relate to mission pressures and the unfolding horror of Calvin's actions.
What happens to David at the end of 'Life'? Calvin doesn’t just kill him; it uses him. David’s sacrifice fails as Calvin takes control, ensuring its survival. It redirects the escape pod towards Earth. Finally, Calvin slowly eats David. This parasitic act shows dominance and consumption. David becomes Calvin's final meal for its invasion on Earth.
Human efforts fail utterly. The alien threat triumphs chillingly. Calvin's fate remains unknown. This amplifies horror. It leaves the audience uneasy about what the creature might do next.
Connections and Comparisons: 'Life' in the Sci-Fi Universe
Is 'Life' a prequel to 'Cloverfield'? The internet buzzed with theories. A shared universe is enticing. The answer is no. 'Life' is not a 'Cloverfield' prequel. Both films feature extraterrestrial threats but exist in different cinematic worlds. Confusion arose from Bad Robot Productions. The themes overlap in science fiction horror. Fans speculate about crossovers, yet each movie stands alone. They tell distinct stories of terror. The Cloverfield name applies to other films, not to 'Life'.
However, the similarities with Ridley Scott's 'Alien' are clear and intentional. 'Life' aligns as a spiritual successor to 'Alien'. The tagline, "Alien meets Gravity," captures the film's essence. Like 'Alien', 'Life' traps a crew in a tight space with a hostile creature. Both films build suspense and use claustrophobic settings. Moments of horror are visceral. Miranda North, played by Rebecca Ferguson, recalls Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver. Both women face cosmic horrors. 'Life' embraces these comparisons. It offers a modern take on the classic 'Alien' formula. It pays homage while carving a terrifying path of its own.
Lights, Camera, Location: Where 'Life' Took Form
How did the filmmakers create the vacuum of space? While 'Life' occurs in weightlessness, its production is based in reality, across various global locations.
'Life' was primarily filmed at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. This studio, with a rich history, provided soundstages for the International Space Station's intricate sets. The confined atmosphere of Pilgrim 7 was crafted within Shepperton's walls.
'Life' also ventured outdoors. Ha Long Bay in Vietnam served as the location for the escape pod’s final ocean landing. The otherworldly beauty creates a powerful visual contrast against the arrival of Calvin. This highlights the global implications of the film's ending.
New York City is another filming location for the 2017 'Life'. Some establishing shots may have been filmed there. However, the bulk of production was in England and Vietnam. Other films titled 'Life' had different filming locations, including California and Ontario. These films are distinct projects with separate production histories.
Beyond the Surface: Lingering Questions About 'Life'
Is 'Life' a terrifying experience? Yes, absolutely. The text doesn't quantify scariness, but the R rating and graphic violence suggest a film meant to frighten. 'Life' is about sustained dread and body horror, not just jump scares. The claustrophobic setting and Calvin's relentless nature disturb viewers. If you like horror with psychological depth, 'Life' excels. Conversely, if you prefer lighter sci-fi, prepare for intense, dark terror.
Will we see 'Life Part 2'? Given its bleak ending, a sequel seems unlikely. The film's power lies in its finality and Calvin's arrival on Earth. A traditional sequel would likely lessen the impact of that unsettling conclusion. The film draws thematic comparisons to John Carpenter's 'The Thing'. Both movies imply a terrifying alien entity has entered the human world. This dread is more effective than a sequel hook. 'Life' builds horror on its own, leaving audiences uneasy about humanity's future.
Was 'Life' a good movie? Despite initial mixed reviews and comparisons to 'Alien', it found a significant audience. The consensus is "good, but not groundbreaking." Some reviews note it's "not perfect". However, it offers unexpected thrills within a crowded genre. While it doesn't reinvent sci-fi horror, 'Life' delivers intense visuals. The strong cast, including Gyllenhaal and Ferguson, enhances the experience. The rapidly evolving alien keeps viewers engaged. 'Life' succeeds in creating modern space horror, drawing from classics, yet carving its niche in the genre.
In space's unforgiving expanse, 'Life' teaches us that not all findings are good. Some doors should remain closed. Sometimes, we unleash the most frightening life unknowingly.
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