TV + Movies

Tom Cruise’s Midsommar-like Sci-Fi Movie Leaves Netflix In February

A very bright sci-fi movie with a dark topic.

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Oblivion leaves Netflix on February 25 and it is worth watching if you enjoy sci-fi infused with mystery/thriller plot.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also directed Tron Legacy, it tells a story set in 2077 after a war with alien invaders. Tom Cruise plays Jack Harper, a drone repairman stationed on a ruined Earth alongside Victoria (Andrea Riseborough). Their mission is simple at first: maintain the drones that protect giant ocean-harvesting machines. Soon, though, Jack starts to realize there is more going on than he first believed.

Here are three reasons why I loved this movie, and you might want to give it watch before it disappears into, well, the oblivion.

Stunning Visuals + Graphics

Joseph Kosinski has a strong eye for design, and Oblivion makes good use of Iceland’s stark scenery for its desolate landscapes. Everything from the tower above the clouds to the sleek white aircraft looks stylish. I feel like many sci-fi flicks can feel a bit gimmicky but there is a certain realism to all aspects of the visuals from the landscape to the costume design.

Much like Ari Aster’s Midsommar, which brought an unusually bright and vibrant palette to the horror genre, Joseph Kosinski’s Oblivion introduces a fresh, sunlit twist to sci-fi. Both films use their luminous settings to not only provide a visual spectacle but also to enhance their storytelling in a ways that are amusingly unorthodox.

The Atmospheric M83 Soundtrack

Composed by M83 (which used to be a real band before they became so big on TikTok) with the help of Joseph Trapanese, the music sets a haunting, futuristic tone. If you liked the electronic feel of Tron Legacy, you will likely appreciate the pulsing beats here, which feel supremely epic.

Existential Threads Beneath the Story

Oblivion may include familiar sci-fi ideas, but it uses them to explore themes of identity and the meaning of life. Even on a second viewing, you pick up on details that add more depth to the plot. This isn’t just an action movie, like Interstellar there is a lot of existential stuff going on benath the surface.