Native

Very atmospheric, novel idea and well performed.

Slow pace with interesting visuals and music, like the original Solaris film.

This is a great movie for people who aren't expecting to be spoonfed a plot, and don't demand splashy CGI and space battles in their sci-fi. If you like the genre for space operas and explosions, you will be bored and probably confused.

Rupert Graves and Ellie Kendrick star as Cane and Eva, alien colonists on a singular mission. Their culture is based on utilitarian uniformity, enforced by their telepathic connections - which are all the stronger in rare "twins" - and motivated by working for the good of the Hive. But, as they near Earth, the messily unique individualism of human life and its strange products, together with internal tragedy, cause the colonists' resolve to unravel.

So far, so simplistic... and this is in many ways a very simple, very pared back movie with few truly original turns. The "humans are chaotic but beautiful" trope has been played out plenty of times before - but that's not truly what Native rests on. The austere sets, mood lighting, and telepathy sequences replete with arthouse shots and sound design create a claustrophobic atmosphere that has more in common with small production theatre than most sci fi movies, and makes for a wholly character driven journey that explores concepts of individualism, identity, self-reliance and the aching need to connect - in any way possible.

There are a few mis-steps and the movie does waver a little into cliche and over-explanation, but more with the feeling of invoking familiar iconography than truly being a boring retread. With great performances and prickly chemistry from the two leads, and a deftness of world-building that leaves lots to the viewer's imagination - plus a neatly uncompromising ending - I would recommend this a million times over any recent big budget laser battle fiasco.

After all, science fiction at its best dissects what it means to be human, and explores how we engage with the possibilities of our nature, our future, and our identity... and those are exactly the issues at Native's heart.

I'm not surprised, reading the reviews, how many people hated this movie. I'd put it down to most people being idiots, completely unable to look beyond the superficiality of their own expectations re: plot, awaiting EVENTS. Eyeroll. Truly brilliant movie. Devolution of the species. Psychology. Spirituality. Love. (In)human connection. Passion.

Philosophical. Existential. Slowwww - which allows time for deep reflection.

Oh and kudos to Baltic Fleet, wicked soundtrack.

One of the coolest most original thought-provoking movies I've seen in recent times. I definitely recommend to anybody with a brain, a bit of compassion and interest in humanity.

The only modern characteristic of this film is the opening scene which is a preview of part of the films climax. I wish this trend would go away. I'm sick of films that begin with a spoiler scene from the ending. That gripe aside, I did enjoy this low budget sci fi movie that had you actually thinking.

'Native' had a good deal going for it. A great idea, one of the best concepts for a lot of films seen recently. An attention grabbing cover. High appreciation for sci-fi, and there are good modestly-or-less-budget ones around. And an actor of high calibre in Rupert Graves. Wasn't so sure about the title though, seemed a bit misleading and mismatched.

Unfortunately, 'Native' disappointed on most levels, with thankfully a few things that stopped it from being worse or unwatchable. Another victim of good ideas but poorly executed (have seen a lot of these recently and it's getting frustrating and something of a peeve now). Really dislike it when potential is wasted and 'Native' is a very good example, if not one of or the worst, of this.

Starting with what was not so bad, 'Native' did have some slickness and atmosphere in the way it was shot.

Its best assets and worth one star each were the committed performances of Ellie Kendrick and especially Graves, showing himself to be a professional and giving his all even when the material is not good.

On the other hand, 'Native', photography aside, looks under-budgeted, especially in the cheap-looking sets that looked sparse and simplistic. The music was neither memorable or fitting and the quality of the sound tended to be intrusive. The direction meanders all over the place and the characters are underdeveloped severely.

Whereas the script and story has garnered some praise by a few, for me they were the sore spots of 'Native'. The script is even more flabby and flimsier than the characters while the story is dull from not having enough content and stretching what was there, structured in a meandering way and confused with an end twist that's neither interesting or surprising and too much left vague.

Summing up, a weak film but not unwatchable. 3/10 Bethany Cox