The Sci-Fi Thriller on Netflix Bending Minds
By Ted Pillow
No, not Interstellar. We know you’ve already seen that.
Digital effects may be corroding the heart and imagination of big-budget science fiction, but they’ve also allowed independent filmmakers to work on a scale previously out of their price range. Case in point: Europa Report, a sci-fi indie in which director Sebastian Cordero creates an effective outer space atmosphere on a shoestring budget.
Cordero eschews linear storytelling to conjure an ominous mood—a mysterious accident occurs at the very beginning of the film, and we spend the rest of the runtime piecing it together while following the crew as they endure further mishaps and inexplicable occurrences.
While Europa Report occasionally bites off more than it can chew—the ending disappoints, for one—it’s frequently tense and creepy, with strong performances. It’s not earth-shattering, but it’s exciting enough to grab your attention and clever enough to hold it.
Stream it on Netflix here.
