At least Adam Driver is still not going anywhere after this.

I could see where Driver signed on for the project. It’s a killer concept and the script calls for an emotional performance as Driver’s character has to protect what is essentially his surrogate daughter… a second chance for him. The problem is that this was handled poorly, resulting in what appears to be more studio notes than any originality from the filmmakers.

I am not here to criticize the filmmakers though. I am sure the directors, Scott Beck & Bryan Woods, had the best of intentions. The problem that I see here is that the script feels barely finished against a rushed production. The amount of opening texts that appear at the beginning of the movie makes it seem like the studio was nervous that the audience wouldn’t understand what was going on. I mean, if no one ever said anything, it would have made for a really cool twist ending.

The amount of exposition mixed in with the dialogue further hinders the film. The opening scene once again feels like a studio note, resulting in underdeveloped characters, plots, and motives. It would have been so cool to explore this other planet that Driver’s character came from, but that’s not the point of this film.

When not including the credits, this film is really shy of 90 minutes. While the concept is cool, it feels too far and in between of one another. The dinosaur scenes only seem to occur to hit the needed plot points and doesn’t give the characters enough time to seem them as a real threat, then have the upper hand on them. Everything feels very sudden. I could also see plot points similar to A Quiet Place – a film the directors co-wrote. The way day turns into night and vice versa is so sudden, too. I am really not sure why 2 directors were needed on this. I think their script could have been really cool, but it does appear that the film wants to go into more directions than it should.

Nonetheless, the concept is still cool and I will give them that. Adam Driver is actually really good in this and maybe it would have been better with him by himself. The will to get back home to his family. Instead, we get something, once again very sudden, to put the plot in a different direction. I will keep it at that without getting into spoilers.

Overall, it is not the worst movie I have ever seen. For context, three people in my theater did leave the movie without finishing it. The opening feels tough to get through and the movie doesn’t always hit the landing it looks for, but there is some good quality in its concept and with its main lead, Adam Driver. If you find merit in this, then good for you.

VERIDCT: 2/5 (Bad)