Synopsis
Stowaway is a sci-fi thriller released in 2021, directed by Joe Penna who co-wrote the film with Ryan Morrison. Differing from numerous sci-fi movies fixated on alien invasions or intergalactic battles, Stowaway’s focus is on the ethically intricate human decisions in extreme survival situations.
The narrative is set in the near future and takes place in MTS-42, a spacecraft set to Mars for a two-year mission. The crew includes the commander and pilot, Marina Barnett, a skilled professional played by Toni Collette, biologist David Kim portrayed by Daniel Dae Kim, and the medical researcher Zoe Levenson played by Anna Kendricks. Like the rest of the crew, Zoe underwent intensive training, and the team calibrated every system in the tail for the two-year flight to the Red Planet.
During the flight, the crew finds an unconscious man named Michael Adams played by Shamier Anderson. Michael is an engineer who supports the spacecraft’s launch and had the misfortune of getting trapped during the final launch preparations. His presence, albeit shocking, represents a grave threat to the mission’s success.
The greatest challenge occurs when it is learned that, by accident, Michael is a stowaway. This has caused some damage to the ship’s life support systems, namely the carbon dioxide removal device. With four people safely aboard the ship, the life support systems which were designed to sustain only three persons, the crew is forced to make the impossible decision of how to allocate the scarce oxygen, resources, and time.
As the mission goes on, so do the conflicts. The ethical issue is apparent – it is possible that someone will need to die in order for the others to live. Each character brings a unique perspective to the problem.
Marina, the seasoned commander, is forced to choose between the mission standard operating procedures and compassion, desperately trying to find a solution that is within the mission framework.
David, the mission’s biologist, suggests a bold course of action that only damages the ship which includes using algae to generate oxygen and only achieves a portion of what it was meant to do.
Zoe, the ship’s doctor, deeply empathizes with Michael’s situation and seeks out ways that will not involve surrendering him. She becomes the emotional core of the film.
As for Michael, he is simply lost in guilt and confusion. Aboard with no intention of being, he finds himself in the crosshairs of an ethical problem that has life or death consequences. Struggling to find a reason for his existence in the situation, he questions if his survival is even worth all the other’s lives.
As the time clock ticks and the oxygen levels fall lower and lower, decisions that the crew makes are life and death. Zoe taking the last impulsive action to attempt to save the crew puts the audience on a roller coaster ride filled with emotion and suspense. The climax itself, coupled with Zoe’s defying the odds to save everyone, is the quietest way to describe the ultimate devastation. Audiences are left with a lingering moral and multi-faceted message that is open to interpretation.
Stowaway is primarily based on moral and ethical issues surrounding the limits of one’s creativity, the essence of space, and alonsidness of being in space,
Cast & Crew
Stowaway depicts Anna Kendrick who deeply connects with Zoe Levenson and plays the role with emotion and optimism, a stark contrast to the character’s situation. Aside from being known for her comedic and musical roles, Kendrick is able to embrace her inner Zoe and highlight her strength while displaying her vulnerability. Zoe’s portrayal was deeply relatable and sympathetic, and through her performance, Kendrick made Zoe the heart of the film.
In his role, David Kim, the biologist in charge of the mission’s scientific execution, is portrayed by Daniel Dae Kim. His character’s emotional intelligence, as noticed in the execution of the performance, showcases the burden of draconian choices that must be made under immense strain. David’s character provides emotional stability to the other characters’ volatility, contributing self-restraint and realism.
Toni Collette brings gravitas and complexity to Commander Marina Barnett, the mission’s leading officer. Marina must, undoubtedly, be the most affected by the weight of the choices that need to be made. Collette’s performance is commanding and understanding, demonstrating the paradox of an effective leader that commands a mission but must deal with a breathtaking human tragedy.
Shamier Anderson as Michael Adams gives a subtle but powerful performance. As an unintended stowaway, Michael is thrust into an incomprehensible situation. Anderson portrays Michael’s fear and confusion with a growing sense of responsibility in a way that ensures the audience empathizes with his character’s odyssey.
The Stowaway film was released on Netflix and is directed by Joe Penna who is known for his survival film Arctic released in 2018. Penna is known for his focus on smaller and more intimate stories. As in Arctic, Penna’s direction is calm but precise. Stowaway’s focus on character building instead of visual effects is a breath of fresh air.
Ryan Morrison, Penna’s co-writer, extensively collaborates with him, sharing in the world they build and breathing life into it. The world Morrison and Penna create in the screenplay is rooted in stark realism with shades of moral gray and character driven storytelling. The minimalist approach in both dialogue and action serves to heighten the emotional intensity of the film.
The film’s score was composed by Dan Romer, who is known for working on “Atypical” and “Beast”. Stowaway features some of the best VFX in the film industry unlike most CGI films that focus on an unrealistic depiction of space travel.
IMDb Ratings & Critical Reception
Stowaway received an average of 5.6/10 on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. A recurring theme in the commentary is the movie’s average pacing and the suspension of character arcs toward the ending stretch of the film. The film was praised for the performances of the main actors and the concept of the movie.
Critics appreciated the movie’s execution as it takes a more realistic approach to the genre of science fiction. Stowaway is not a typical space thriller because it does not center around action or visual spectacles; it focuses more on the ethical dilemmas involved in life-and-death situations. A more contemplative and relaxed pace appealed to those who prefer to ponder. Comparisons to Gravity and Moon highlighted the emotive performance driving the narrative; however, Stowaway is more reserved in its approach.
Nonetheless, the film had its own shortcomings. A portion of the audience found the movie’s first half to be exceptionally slow. The lack of a traditional resolution, especially the open ending, was cited as a contributing factor to many feeling the film was unfinished. Those with a desire for a shocking reveal or a climactic turn may have found the story boring.
Regardless, the realism and lack of convenient resolutions were appreciated. The ethical quandary presented in the film – who is entitled to life – was recognized for prompting discussion after viewing the film. The absence of a clear villain and answer to the dilemma forced the audience to wrestle with the unsettling truth that, in space, survival is not mainly about technology, but about ethical sacrifice.
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