Life combines action and horror

Arriving in theaters on March 24th, 2017, Life is the year’s first box office thriller and has proven controversial among critics. Daniel Espinosa’s space horror film is designed to strain the emotions of its audience, depicting truly frightening scenes under the added constraint of a claustrophobic environment.

The film follows astronauts (including Jake Gyllenhaal and Rebecca Ferguson) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as they come across a groundbreaking discovery: the first evidence of life forms on Mars. The crew’s exhilaration and euphoria quickly turn to fear and horror, however, as the extraterrestrial life form evolves at an alarming rate, becoming more intelligent and hostile than anyone would have imagined.

Leader of the project, David Jordan (Jake Gyllenhaal), is among the few trapped inside the ISS. A Los Angeles native, born on December 19th, 1980, Gyllenhaal grew up in a culture with deep roots in film. His parents, Stephen and Naomi, were professional directors and screenwriters in Hollywood, and his sister, Maggie, acts as well. He first received recognition for his work as a teenager, playing the lead in October Sky. Since then, he has starred in award-winning films Southpaw, Nightcrawler, and Nocturnal Animals, and hopes to add Life to his list of successful films.

Rebecca Ferguson, playing Miranda North, a crew member on the ISS, is a Swedish actress, born in the Vasastaden District. She attended an English-speaking school as a child, as her mother was British, and was raised bilingual. Starting as a teen actress in Swedish soap operas, Ferguson’s first great success came as she played Queen Elizabeth in The White Queen. Her performance lead to future roles in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, and The Girl on The Train. Life, her biggest film to date, could mean promise for future success.

Director Daniel Espinosa is a Sweden native as well, starting his career as a producer on Swedish news programs. Since moving to the US to take up directing, he has found great early success and many agree he shows potential to be on of the best directors in Hollywood. Specializing in action thrillers, Espinosa has directed Safe House, Child 44, and Easy Money, and produced several others. Life is his biggest film to date as well, another step in his ladder to the top.

Critics seem to be torn on Life, some raving about the film while others speak poorly of it. Supporters of the film love its thrilling scenes and spectacular acting performances. Critics, however, claim the editing and pacing of the movie are mediocre at best, outweighing the few positives. One thing is for sure, If you’re a fan of action and horror, Life is designed for you and is well worth the experience.