Prospect

A new low-budget sci-fi thriller, where the excellent Pedro Pascal is again the main attraction. Quite original stuff about a father and daughter who go to an unknown planet to mine gems, but the toxic nature and inhospitable natives get to them and the fight for survival begins. The beautiful virgin nature, the interesting look of the spacesuits and the cramped atmosphere are captivating. There is one disturbing hand amputation and I liked the more action-packed finale, but my expectations were higher. Definitely an interesting addition for fans of the genre. 60% (19/02/2019)

In its principle, it’s a space version of the classic flick The Defiant Ones, where two completely different people are forced to work together in order to survive in a hostile environment. Prospect, however, has enchanting visuals. The outdoor settings for the cosmic virgin ancient forest are fabulous, the interiors of the spaceship look like they were frozen from the seventies, which reinforces the feeling that something could go wrong very easily. Sophie Thatcher and Pedro Pascal satisfyingly drive the film forward and, despite a somewhat slack pace, there’s no time to get bored. I wish the experience was a bit more intense, but I’ll add one star to my ranking for the oppressive atmosphere, original design and musical motif. [Sitges 2018] (06/10/2018)