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| Images Courtesy of Blue Harbor Entertainment |
Science
fiction is one of the more malleable cinematic genres with offerings ranging
from existential horror to comedy to intellectual thrillers. Jaco
Bouwer's latest effort, Orion, is a sterling example of a cerebral
mystery. A chamber piece battle of wills, it centers on two
characters who both may be hiding something extremely dangerous. This is
one of the few times an independent, low-budget effort manages to use its
meager funding to its advantage. Featuring an electric duo of central
performances, an intriguing premise, and surprisingly adept visuals, this is
an excellent addition to the sci-fi pantheon.
An astronaut codenamed Apollo awakens from a coma after a doomed mission to space. He is held captive in a room and interrogated by a NASA intelligence officer who believes Apollo may hold the key to communication with extraterrestrial life forms. Anne Vithayathil's script is one of the film's many virtues. This is a single location event, which simply does not work if the script and the principals are out of sync. One of the best parts is in how the narrative reinvents itself. When things begin, it feels familiar: A failed space mission in which the only survivor has something to hide, and their interrogator is ice-cold and willing to exploit them at all costs. This preconception is upended by Drew Van Acker's splendid performance as Apollo and Andrew McCarthy (Mannequin) as his interrogator. Their chemistry almost has a father son undercurrent that allows them to build trust, both with one another and with the audience. The relationship morphs throughout, going through several incarnations and the way these two actors display the gamut of emotions is commendable.
David Kruta's cinematography does so much with so little. The main "room" is warm, brimming with life and blues and brown colors flood the optics, however scenes in which the science fiction elements are present manage to convey a sense of both wonder and dread. This is a simple plot that overcomes mediocrity because it uses every single tool available to enhance itself and the final result is a sublime sojourn to the limits of mankind's knowledge. Another interesting attribute is the concept of language and lyrics, but to opine would be to spoil.
Now playing in select theaters and coming to video on demand tomorrow, November 3rd, Orion is a worthy pick to scratch that thinking-person's science fiction itch. The central two performances are the heart, however, the mystery, and eventual revelations are what allows this to stand ahead of the pack. In an age of an over saturated low-budget video on demand market, it is gems such as this that serve as reminders that the artform is far from gone.
-- Kyle
Jonathan