Category: Sci-Fi

Companion

2025   Warner Brothers

Rated:  R

Length:  1 hr  37min

Fantasy ~ Horror ~ Sci-Fi ~ Suspense ~ Thriller

Directed by:  Drew Hancock

Starring:  Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend.

Find someone made just for you.

The Movie starts with this scene in a grocery store. It is when Iris and Josh first met…..

Iris is shopping in the grocery store pushing a grocery cart, when she sees peaches displayed in the produce department. She stops and picks up a peach, smells it, and looks up to see a guy named Josh smiling at her. He walks around to the front of her cart near an orange display, and attempting to make small talk, grabs an orange. All the oranges in the display fall onto the floor…..He sheepishly starts to laugh and Iris  starts to laugh too. Josh says, “Well That was smooth..” and laughs. Iris agrees as she laughs and smiles at him, “Yeah…So smooth.

As this voiceover from Iris plays:

Most the time it’s like, I don’t know, it’s like there’s this thick black cloud covering everything.

Like we see the world but, we don’t really see the world, you know?

We’re all just stumbling around. Directionless. No sense of meaning. No sense of purpose.

I know that might sound super depressing but honestly, I think it’s a good thing.

Because it makes us appreciate the other times.

Those brief transcendent moments when the lights flicker on, the black cloud parts and you see the world for what it really is.

And suddenly there’s meaning. Suddenly there’s purpose.

If you’re lucky you’ll experience this once in your lifetime.

For me, it happened twice.

The first was the day I met Josh.

And the second…..the day I killed him.

“Iris, Wake Up” Josh says. Iris wakes up, yawns and asks Josh, “How long was I out?” “You’ve been out for awhile now, what were you dreaming about?” Iris answers, “I was dreaming about when we first met.” They are driving in Josh’s self driving autonomous car to a friend’s house out in the countryside for a weekend getaway. They are meeting with some other friends to spend the weekend together and have some fun. The house belongs to Sergey, a shady Russian business man “whose hands are in some dirty business”, so he says.

Eli and his lover Patrick have already arrived and Josh and Iris pull up and park next to their car. As they enter the house they are greeted by Kat, who Iris is convinced doesn’t like her very much. Patrick is cooking, Sergey is drinking and making drinks for everyone else and Eli comes downstairs to greet Josh and Iris. And the weekend begins! There is food, there is drink, there is dancing, a fun time for all, let the good times roll!

But not for long! Soon things spiral out of control and not in the way it was intended! For there is more to this little planned getaway than meets the eye, as there is to Iris, Patrick, Josh and Kat. Sometimes the bad guy isn’t who you think it is, or is it. Just when you think you know what is going to happen, it goes in a completely different direction. And when you think you have that figured out, guess again. Nope, you’re wrong!

There are shades of Subservience and M3GAN in this movie. Yes, there are A.I. Robots, but you think they turn bad and run amok. Not nese-celery! New word I made up! Anyway, I thought Sophie Thatcher was great as Iris. I really liked her in this. Great job I say. And Jack Quaid as well, I just found out he is the son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, how about that! I love the story and the twists and turns, and I am fond of the Sci-Fi AI Robot genre of things. I am a big Bladerunner fan and love both of those futuristic AI Robotic humanoid filled movies. It is a twisty turny thrilling Sci-Fi Movie that leaves you rooting for who you thought was the bad guy in the end.

Yes, yes and yes on Companion.

I am a Sophie Thatcher and Companion Fan now!

Two Thumbs Up!

Poor Things

2024   Searchlight Pictures

Rated:  R

Length:  2 hr  21min

Comedy ~ Drama ~ Romance ~ Sci-Fi

Directed by:  Yorgos Lanthimos

Starring:  Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, and Jerrod Carmichael.

“I am a changeable feast. As are all of we.”

THE BOOK:

 A 1992 Novel by Alasdair Gray originally titled  Poor Things: Episodes from the Early Life of Archibald McCandless M.D., Scottish Public Health Officer.

In the 1880s in Glasgow, Scotland, medical student Archibald McCandless finds himself enchanted with the intriguing creature known as Bella Baxter. Supposedly the product of the fiendish scientist Godwin Baxter, Bella was resurrected for the sole purpose of fulfilling the whims of her benefactor. As his desire turns to obsession, Archibald’s motives to free Bella are revealed to be as selfish as Godwin’s, who claims her body and soul.

But Bella has her own passions to pursue. Passions that take her to aristocratic casinos, low-life Alexandria, and a Parisian bordello, reaching an interrupted climax in a Scottish church. Exploring her station as a woman in the shadow of the patriarchy, Bella knows it is up to her to free herself—and to decide what meaning, if any, true love has in her life.

THE MOVIE:

From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

THE REVIEW:

WOW! How Bizarre! How Beautiful! Pure Ecstasy! Frankensteinian Erotica! It drew me in from the very beginning with wonder, amazement and revulsion all at the same time. Like a train wreck I could not look away, as the sights, the eerie sounds and the bizarre story and twists laid out before me. Each one more bizarre than the last, more incredible than the one before. Watching Emma Stone grow into Bella Baxter was a transfixing journey of wonderment and discovery. An Absolutely Stunning Performance!

The horror of Willem Dafoe’s face outmatched by the horror of the reason why. The man who should be a monster instead creates beautiful life. Mark Ruffalo comes off as a dastardly conniving lecherous swine but instead shows a heart and love towards Bella, until he feels betrayed and goes back to being the swine that he is. The Architecture, the ceilings of whimsy, the cityscapes, and the steam boat were magnificent! The scenery was beautifully whimsical and surreal! I don’t even consciously remember the movie going from black and white to the magnificent colors in the end. It was a seamless journey from black and white to color as Bella matured and grew.

Shades of Young Frankenstein and Frankenstein with a heavy dash of whimsical Victorian. It is not going to be for everyone. Know there are grotesques scenes of Frankensteinian animals and bodies, completely naked scenes of gratuitous sex and vulgarity. It can be vulgar and repulsive as well as whimsical and inviting. I absolutely loved this experience. I loved the movie and Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef and Willem Dafoe’s performance. But Emma Stone outdid herself in this one. An absolutely wonderful and incredible performance as Bella. Well done!

Nope

2022   Universal Pictures

Rated:  R

Length:  2 hr  11min

Sci-Fi ~ Thriller

Directed bv:  Jordan Peele

Starring:  Daniel Kaluuya,  Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, Brandon Perea, and Keith David.

“This dream you’re chasing, where you end up at the top of the mountain, all eyes on you… it’s the dream you never wake up from.”

FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES:

Oscar®-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele reimagines the summer movie with Nope, an expansive pop epic of uncanny science fiction. Following their father’s shocking death, Hollywood animal wrangler OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) begin observing unexplained phenomena on their vast Southern California ranch that leads them down an obsessive rabbit hole as they plot attempts to capture the mystery on camera. Along with a former child star turned family theme park ringmaster (Steven Yeun) who neighbors the siblings, the pair’s efforts to chase the spectacle soon bring terrifying consequences and unimaginable horror. The result is a complex social thriller that unpacks the seeds of violence, risk and opportunism that are inseparable from the romanticized history of the American West … and from show business itself.

Movie Backstories:

The Chimpanzee:

In the beginning of the movie, and later in the movie,  there are scenes where a monkey has gone rogue on a sitcom TV set. Balloons released from a box on his birthday rise up and hit the stage lights and pop, sending the primate into a fit of uncontrollable violence. He focuses on the actress playing the mother in the sitcom, and violently attacks her. This scene is based on a real life incident that happened in 2009 in Stamford, Connecticut.

Travis the chimp was raised by Sandra and Jerome Herold after purchasing him at three days old. They raised him as a human, he accompanied them everywhere. He would ride in their vehicles, buckling himself in wearing a baseball t-shirt. He could open doors with keys, dress himself, log onto a computer and look at pictures, turn on TV and use the remote, and even brushed his teeth. But you can’t take the animal out of the animal no matter how much you humanize him.

On February 16, 2009 Travis attacked and mauled Sandra’s friend Charla Nash. Already agitated that day, he lost his mind when he saw Charla holding his favorite Elmo doll in an attempt to get him to come with her back into the house. He savagely ripped into her face and tore off her hands. She survived but has had a face transplant and numerous surgeries. Part of the movie’s message is dealing with our treatment and relationship to animals in captivity. And the creature in the sky is a metaphor for the animals we try to control and humanize.

The Film Industry:

When Oj and Em are introducing themselves to the cast and crew on the Hollywood sound stage, they reference their families proud Black Heritage within the Film Industries History. It was part of Jordan Peele’s intention in this movie to raise awareness of the history and exploitation of Black Actors in The Film Industry’s History. It also alludes to The Film Industry’s exploitation of spectacle over substance and safety.

NOPE:

NOPE is an acronym for Not Of Planet Earth. It is an acronym that has been used to describe the UFO Phenomenon. It is also a reference to an Eddie Murphy bit where he talks about the difference between White people and Black people in a Horror Movie. The White people are gonna say, “Well, let’s go take a look and investigate that mysterious phenomenon.” Whereas according to Eddie Murphy, Black people are going to say ‘”NOPE! Not Me!” and run the other way. I’m with the latter group as Daniel Kaluuya says twice in the movie given the choice to investigate further……NOPE! 

COWBOYS AND ALIENS:

Reminds me of the 2011 Movie starring Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde. They both are Western Sc-Fi’s with Cowboys and Aliens and that’s where the similarity ends but I loved that movie!

The Review:

I enjoyed every minute of this movie. It does what movies are supposed to do. It makes you squeamish, it thrills you, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, it makes you question things. It is a cinematic experience and journey unlike any other. I am not real familiar with Jordan Peele, although I do remember watching Get Out. I am going to have to watch his other two movies now after thoroughly enjoying this. I really like Daniel Kaluuya in this and I am a sucker for out of this world entertainment!

Highly Recommended.

Two Thumbs Up.

The Electric State

2025   Netflix

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  2 hr  8min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Sci-Fi

Directed by:  Anthony and Joe Russo

Starring:  Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito and Stanley Tucci.

“Rage with the Machines.”

THE BOOK:

The Electric State  A Graphic Novel by Simon Stålenhag   2018

In late 1997, a runaway teenager and her small yellow toy robot travel west through a strange American landscape where the ruins of gigantic battle drones litter the countryside, along with the discarded trash of a high-tech consumerist society addicted to a virtual-reality system. As they approach the edge of the continent, the world outside the car window seems to unravel at an ever faster pace, as if somewhere beyond the horizon, the hollow core of civilization has finally caved in.

THE MOVIE (Netflix Tudum):

In the world of The Electric State, the ’90s look a little different. Sure, plaid flannel shirts and grunge black eyeliner are still in, but a catastrophic war between humans and robots has left the world scarred and divided. With robots banished to a remote wasteland, an uneasy peace has been reached — but it may not last for long.

The Electric State tells the story of Michelle ( Millie Bobby Brown), a young woman traveling with a sweet but mysterious robot. The pair reluctantly team up with eccentric drifter Keats (Chris Pratt), and set out on a cross-country road trip to find Michelle’s younger brother. Along the way, they have to navigate an electrified, retro-futuristic US landscape with eerie similarities to our own time.

The Electric State is an explosive adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 graphic novel of the same name about a young girl and her small yellow toy robot who travel west through a high-tech wasteland. The Russos’ version takes the story concept and runs with it, expanding the world while remaining true to the emotional threads Stålenhag weaved into his work.

“I’m blown away by the movie,” Stålenhag told Netflix. “It was an amazing experience watching things that I have drawn come to life this way. What resonated most with me was the emotional core of the movie, which is the need for family. Even though the movie has changed genre from the book a bit, that main core is still the same and has been expanded on beautifully.”

The Russos and writers Markus and McFeely were in communication with Stålenhag throughout the film’s development, and he was pleased to see the creative liberties they took to make the film stand on its own. “They asked me questions about the timeline and backstory, but it’s their work,” he said. “They’re the best in the world at what they do, and to see them work on a project that comes from me, it’s beyond satisfying, surreal. I am so positively surprised by the end result.”

THE REVIEW:

I didn’t know that the movie was based upon a book until after I watched the movie. I included a lot of information about that because I think I would have had a better appreciation of the movie if I had known that going in. After the fact, looking at the illustrations of the book, the movie does a great job of bringing those illustrations and the book to life. I love Millie Bobby Brown and I think she was good in this, but I don’t think the movie would have survived with another actress. Chris Pratt was good as well but I think the stars were Millie, Cosmo and Devyn Dalton. Devyn Dalton is the Motion Capture actress that played Cosmo.

I appreciated all the robot characters, they started to grow on me. Herman (Anthony Mackie), Mr. Peanut (Woody Harrelson), Popfly (Brian Cox) and Penny Pal (Jenny Slate) were my favorites, after Cosmo of course. Yes, they started to feel like human beings to me. They drew me in to their struggle to be accepted. Robots co-existing side by side with Humans. And to quote Millie in the end, “We are going to do it right this time.” I liked it, but if you don’t like Robots and Sci-Fi, you’re gonna think it was dumb.

Again, take a look at the book the movie was based on, you’ll appreciate it more.

Elevation

2024   Vertical Entertainment

Rated:  R

Length:  1 hr  31min

Action ~ Sci-Fi ~ Suspense

Directed by:   George Nolfi

Starring:   Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, and Maddie Hasson.

“Don’t go down without a fight.”

The Synopsis from The Official Movie Website:

The world has changed. The only habitable place left for humanity is in the high mountains, above 8000 feet. Below 8000 feet dwell the creatures that killed 95% of the human population less than three years ago. To save the life of his young son, a father (Anthony Mackie) is forced to venture below “The Line” with a scientist (Morena Baccarin) he despises, but who just might hold the key to defeating the monsters, and a young woman (Maddie Hasson) determined to keep them both alive long enough to save the human race.

Thoughts and Questions:

It is very similar to the A Quiet Place Movies. In Elevation the creatures came up from below the ground. In A Quiet Place they came from the sky.

In A Quiet Place the creatures destroy anything that makes a sound and humans make all the noise. In Elevation the creatures destroy humans who seem to make all the noise. Later in the movie we see wild horses everywhere, why aren’t they destroyed by the creatures?

Nina (Morena Baccarin) the scientist explains, “The creatures have CO2 sensors and track humans. They never sleep, they never eat, it seems their sole purpose is to track humans and kill them. I think it is divine retribution for man’s evil ways.” Don’t the animals give off CO2 as well?  Yes, but it seems again that this is Divine Retribution for Man’s Evil Ways and only Humans are targeted for extermination.

In A Quiet Place The Abbott family quietly venture into town for supplies and medicines they need and in Elevation Will, Nina and Katie venture down from the mountain for supplies and the medicine Will needs to keep his son alive.

In A Quiet Place the creatures were called Death Angels, in Elevation they are referred to as Reapers. Both sound like Divine Retribution names.

  • Why 8000 feet?

What happens between 7999 feet and 8000 feet that the creatures can’t cross the white rocks that were placed at the 8000 feet mark to mark the line the creatures can’t cross? As we see later in the movie the creatures are machines and not living creatures. Again, according to Nina the Scientist, “It is in their programming, they can’t cross into any altitude above 8000 feet. They were programmed to wipe out humanity. Divine Retribution for Man’s wicked ways.”

  • The Creature’s Weakness:

In the A Quiet Place Movies, the creatures weakness is found. Death by a high frequency that blows their eardrums and head apart. In Elevation Nina discovers that bullets coated with Cobalt trigger an electric charge that causes the Reapers to implode rather violently.

I couldn’t find any information that alludes to Elevation being a prequel to A Quiet Place: Day One. But at the end of the movie right after the credits start rolling there is a scene where Will and Nina are looking up at the sky through a telescope and see something coming down from the sky, very similar to the beginning of A Quiet Place: Day One.

My Recommendation:

I liked it, although I don’t think I would watch it again. Just not that memorable. It was good enough to hold my interest, although at times it seemed a bit slow or forced. At an hour and a half it went really quick though. So yes it’s worth a watch, just a one-off though. More like a B Sci-Fi movie than the Blockbuster The A Quiet Place Movies were.