The anticipation of a high-concept sci-fi thriller can be exhilarating, and I.S.S. does just that with its premise. Six astronauts, three Americans and three Russians, find themselves stuck aboard the International Space Station with conflicting orders while a nuclear war rages across the planet. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite brings this story to life, working from a Black List-ed screenplay by Nick Shafir. The early scenes show promise, as the characters get to know one another and the setting unfolds. The cast shines in their performances, but the plot’s forced shifts in character allegiances feel contrived.
As the war outside becomes more dire, the astronauts receive similar but competing messages: War has broken out at home, and the Americans and Russians are both ordered to take control of the I.S.S. by any means necessary.
A Still From I.S.S. (Via IMDB)
The tension builds as the characters must decide whether to look out for themselves, their country, or the station collective. But despite the intriguing concept, I.S.S. turns into a fairly mundane space thriller. The plot never takes off from its boostd concept, opting for a conventional thriller instead. The film’s focus is on the characters’ cat-and-mouse game, rather than exploring the existential implications of a war that may have blown the planet to hell.
Fans of space-based thrillers may find moderate entertainment in I.S.S., but for anyone else interested in the idea of astronauts floating above a world in peril, the film’s lack of depth and exploration of the horrifying situation on the planet will likely leave them disappointed.
