Ignore that 27% Rotten Tomatoes Score, this science fiction horror film by Dennis Quaid is like “the descent” but in the space

Over the years, there have been many films that have acquired a bad reputation (as well as a horrible rotten rotten score) without any fault of their aesthetic or narrative merits, but rather because of the preconceived ideas of the time. Pandoruma 2009 space horror led by Christian Alvartseems to be another curious example of this. This film that weighs the genre seems to be the victim of the unhappy calendar of the releaseBecause by the end of the burst of aushts, it was greatly believed that the genre of space films was in crisis and devoid of new ideas, as shown in the dull reception of the reception of Danny Boyle‘s Sun.

Although extremely ignored by criticisms, Pandorum proves that the supposed crisis has been exaggerated, Offer a captivating psychological study wrapped in a science fiction frameworka kind of The descent in space. Riddled with references to a variety of classic films like Solaris,, StrangerAnd The thingThe Alvart spatial thriller digs in the fragility of the human mind and its sensitivity to the corruption of uniform power.

What is “pandorum” is talking about?

On the surface, Pandorum could present itself as a common science fiction adventure on another effort to save humanity by loading a bunch of potential settlers on a spacecraft, only for Two people to wake up unexpectedly from Hypers Sleep and realize that something was terribly turned. In this case, these are two members of the driving crew, corporal Bower (Legs) and Lieutenant Payton (Dennis Quaid), both suffering from amnesia and, therefore, unable to remember not only what could have happened on the ship, but also what they do exactly here and what their life had been before this flight. Payton remains behind and process orders, while Bower ventures into the depths of the ship to try to solve the apparent problem with the nuclear reactor. As Bower is surprised to realize that A very hostile presence hides in the dark corridorsPayton is confronted with Corporal Gallo (Gigandet cam), who claims that the members of the previous quarter work have gone crazy.

From a current point of view, with a story like this, Pandorum offer multiple opportunities to theorize this Passengers could have looked like if, instead of a problematic romance, he presented people losing his head and cannibal mutants. Basically, however, Pandorum At the start, it was not at all a big studio blockbuster, but rather something of a passionate project. Scriptwriter Travis Milloy First wrote a preliminary script in the 90s as a low -budget production, while Alvart worked on a story called Nowhere with a similar concept. It was only when several producers, including Paul WS AndersonI arrived on board and made Milloy and Alvart work together Pandorum transformed into a project with a franchise potential, as It was supposed to be the first part of a trilogyBefore the disappointing results at the box office wasted this idea.

“ Pandorum ” is at its best when he renounces action in favor of exploring the psychological torment of a spatial adventure

Obviously, many viewers expected to see a simple science fiction action PandorumMost likely because of the figure of Paul WS Anderson. Since the latter’s work, however, the reference closest to Alvart’s film would be Event horizon (1997), in terms of atmosphere, aesthetics (in particular its dark of dark colors) and themes. THE The action, even if it is obviously present, it is clearly not what interests the most Alvart In this space adventure. The German director, who took importance with his psychological crime thriller in 2005, Antibodyfocuses on something that most corresponds to its general area of interest: create an almost claustrophobic thriller that takes place in space and addresses the assessment that uncertainty, isolation and paranoia take the human mind.

While some of the action sequences are drowning in the rapid edition and the darkness that dominates the screen most of the time, the monsters that appear at a certain point are disturbing, even if they in fact recall the creatures of creatures of creatures of The descent. But just as in Neil Marshallmovie film, the main terror of Pandorum does not come from monsters but people and their actions. The descent tested the links of friendships and the power of sorrow and guilt in extreme circumstances and a confined space. Alvart goes even further (literally), using space trip as a ultimate test for the human psyche. Pandorum’s idea is introduced throughout the film – a special form of psychosis caused by the effects of deep space. Thus, unlike many other films of the genre, in PandorumIt is not as long as no one can hear you shout – that’s it You might think you are crying when something else really happens.

Before obtaining companions, Foster and Quaid spend a decent amount of solo time on the screen, offering actors multiple opportunities for Show paranoia and possible delusions as well as to present serious doubts about the reality that surrounds them and the glimpse of their memories. At one point, the film ventures surprisingly in Apocalypse NOW The territory, asking questions about being stripped of familiar morality can be considered as a curse or release. Philosophical dilemmas apart, As in most Alvart projects, there are moments of pure cinematographic plume in Pandorum. From the image of Ben Foster crawling its way through the myriads of mutant bodies twisted with a brief but memorable appearance Norman Reeduswho had already worked with Alvart on Antibody And wanted to start again. In the end, it is not at all surprising that, despite bad criticisms, Pandorum Finally made a cult after – so much so that some of the fans, reflecting the choice of the protagonist in the film, do not lose the hope of obtaining these two expected followers.