Life (2017): When Martian Life Gets a Little Too Lively
What if we found life on Mars? Real life? The 2017 sci-fi horror film, Life, explores this thrilling premise. Things spiral into chaos faster than you can say "office potluck gone wrong." Get ready for a wild ride.
The Martian Mishap: Plot and Premise Unpacked
Imagine astronauts on the International Space Station, preparing for a discovery. They study soil samples from Mars that an unmanned probe, Pilgrim 7, brought back. It's a moment in history. But things quickly turn frightful.
These samples are not ordinary rocks. They hold something alive. Meet Calvin. This not-so-friendly alien life-form starts single-celled and evolves rapidly. The crew's excitement shifts to sheer horror.
The discovery is thrilling. The headlines would shout: "Life on Mars Confirmed!" But as the astronauts, including Jake Gyllenhaal and Rebecca Ferguson, begin their work, Calvin has different plans. A lab rat next door looks quite appetizing to Calvin.
Character Calamities: Actions and Fates in the Face of Fear
Calvin’s path of chaos starts with the lab rat. This monster is not a typical rowdy one. Calvin is intelligent and adaptive. He makes bold entrances and exits. Picture a clever and fast-growing space octopus with an attitude.
Calvin gobbles the lab rat after it bites him. It's a mistake for the rat; it's like adding fuel to a fire. Calvin gets bigger and learns more about Earth creatures. Surprise! They taste good.
Next is Hugh Derry, played by Ariyon Bakare. He tries to help Calvin with electric shocks. Bad move. Calvin retaliates brutally, crushing Hugh’s hand. That's the risk of experimentation gone wrong.
But Calvin's horror show isn't over yet. He stealthily attaches himself to Hugh’s leg. Hugh, being paraplegic, remains blissfully unaware of his new passenger. It’s just a methodical escape plan for Calvin.
Rory Adams, played by Ryan Reynolds, also faces Calvin’s wrath. Calvin latches onto Rory's leg. Rory fights back with a rocket thruster in space. Smart? Depends. Effective? Not even close. Calvin dives right into Rory's mouth instead.
David Jordan, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, gets too close as well. Calvin seizes control of David’s arm. Imagine an uninvited puppeteer commandeering your muscles. Not fun.
The end of the line for David arrives during the crash landing back to Earth. Calvin decides David is a tasty snack while he’s trapped in his pod. When it crashes in Vietnam, a fisherman opens it to find Calvin munching on David. Talk about an awkward reunion.
Poor Hugh doesn't escape either. After serving as Calvin’s getaway vehicle, he collapses and succumbs to blood loss. It's a grim reminder: in space, danger lurks in every corner.
Sho Murakami, played by Hiroyuki Sanada, opts for self-preservation. He seals himself in a sleeping pod as events unravel. But in space, safety isn’t guaranteed. Sho gets sucked out into the void instead. A cosmic twist of fate awaits.
Miranda North experiences a classic sci-fi fate. Debris hits her pod and sends her spiraling into space. It serves as a harsh reminder of space's cold indifference.
Finally, David finds himself tangled with Calvin’s tentacles once again, after surviving on Earth for a moment. He becomes a cosmic horror version of seafood, lost in the ocean.
Calvin: Meet the Martian Menace
So, what is Calvin? He's an alien life-form from Mars and the first proof of extraterrestrial life. This initial excitement fades once they realize they've welcomed a super-predator into their station.
Calvin's abilities are unnerving. Rapid evolution fuels his terror. He's very smart, incredibly adaptable, and exceedingly hostile—an embodiment of danger. Remember those electric shocks? Calvin showed no gratitude then, only aggression.
Calvin grows at astonishing rates as he consumes anything organic. Think of him as the ultimate predator. He vacuums everything and transforms it into more Calvin.
Feeding remains his hobby. He consumes lab rats, astronauts, and anything else that he can eat to drive his evolution. It is a twisted yet effective cycle of life.
Movie Musings: Is Life Worth Living... Or Watching?
The golden question: Is Life (2017) good? Opinions differ widely. Some critics label it as derivative. It draws extensively from legends like Alien and Gravity. Not much in originality here.
Yet others argue that it provides enjoyment even without being groundbreaking. Tension, direction, and a B-movie spirit capture attention. Sometimes you need escapism when you have popcorn in hand.
Why does Life scare viewers? It has jump scares but not overwhelming numbers. Gore abounds throughout, with ample bloodshed and infamous scenes where Calvin crawls down throats. Squeamish folk may want to watch carefully.
Despite its obvious influences, some see Life as bringing a fresh perspective to the genre. "Not perfect," one critic shared, "but it shakes things up by doing unexpected things." It might not redefine horror but adds an engaging twist.
Connections and Conspiracies: Alien, Venom, Cloverfield?
The similarities to Alien and Gravity remain undeniable. A confined setting? Check. An alien menace? Check. Astronauts lost in the void? Double check. Life borrows heavily from its cinematic predecessors.
But is it a prequel to Venom or part of Cloverfield? No definitive connection exists here, despite theories swirling online. Life stands alone in its narrative, as confirmed by the studio amidst speculation.
Lights, Camera, Space Station: Filming Locations
Where did they bring this cosmic horror to life? Principal photography began at Shepperton Studios in London. This started in July 2016. Shepperton Studios is in Shepperton, Surrey, England. It gave a controlled environment for the ISS sets.
However, not all of Life was filmed in a studio. For those stunning and later scary Earth shots, they went outside. Ha Long Bay in Quang Bình Province, Vietnam, provided the backdrop for some scenes. Ironically, this included the pod landing in the ocean. Location scouting had drama.
Also, New York City makes an appearance. However, details on specific NYC locations are rare. They are scarcer than oxygen on Mars. But Earth scenes were not only studio-bound. There is more.
Bonus Round: Unintentional Life Lessons (Outside the Movie)
Interestingly, some results related to Life also shifted into end-of-life symptoms and the purpose of life. This is a big tonal shift from space monsters. Let’s explore these unexpected detours.
End-of-life symptoms, like fever, mottled skin, and apnea, differ greatly from being eaten by aliens. Fever at life's end can result from infections or inflammation. Medications can also cause it. Treatments include antipyretics and cool cloths. Mottled skin appears as red or purple patches and signals slowed circulation. Apnea, or temporary breathing cessation, can show as Cheyne-Stokes breathing. Other signs include discolored skin and shallow breathing. Thankfully, none are caused by Martian life.
Then there's the question of life's purpose. This has been pondered since consciousness dawned. It was likely considered by Calvin too. His purpose seemed mainly about eating and evolving. For humans, life's purpose is more layered. Learning, growing, and contributing commonly arise. We use gifts to help others, bring joy, and improve the world. Perhaps the astronauts in Life sought to expand human knowledge. That was noble before things went horribly wrong.
So, is Life a cinematic masterpiece? Maybe not. Is it a thrilling and gory space horror ride? Absolutely. Just check lab samples before you bring them back to the station. Pack extra flamethrowers, just in case.
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