Outer Reaches

"Outer Reaches" feels like a trailer and not a very interesting one at that. If you read the synopsis, you have a 50% chance of guessing the ending, though the film is so dull and emotionless that you probably won't care either way. The main character comes across as a sheep farmer from the Aussie outback who was randomly chosen (perhaps the same could be said for the actor and the casting process) to get sent into space, not a highly trained astronaut. In contrast, the other on-screen actor is actually quite good as the alien-infected crew member despite looking like a "Spaceballs" version of a hentai tentacle monster. The film's only redeeming features are the planetary visual effects and sound design.

I was really excited in the first few minutes of The Outer Reaches as the stunning planetary visuals completely drew me in. This 12-minute sci-fi short is about two astronauts whose escape pod crash-lands on a barren alien world. At first, everything looks incredible-especially for a short space film. But then, it all falls apart; there are several major flaws that are hard to overlook.

First, the acting is below average. The characters' reactions to surprising events feel emotionless and awkward. For example, when one astronaut discovers that the other is infected with a strange alien virus turning him into a tentacled creature, his response is laughably dull. I'm not sure if it was meant to be funny, but it wasn't.

Second, the plot leaves too many questions unanswered-probably due to the short runtime. How and when did the astronaut get infected? The story hints that it may have happened before the crash, but the dialogue implies otherwise. Also, why does the uninfected astronaut stay so close to the creature, even while it's practically brushing him with its tentacles? And why does he suddenly return to the pod to fight the alien without any clear reason?

Third, while the film clearly invested in breathtaking planetary landscapes, the production quality of the gear feels cheap. The astronaut's helmet, for instance, is obviously a repurposed motorcycle helmet-and it's nowhere near airtight. You can even see gaps around the neck. Yet, the astronaut still waits for the AI to confirm if the air is breathable before removing it. A simple fix, like adding a scarf or neck seal, could have solved this inconsistency.

I could go on, but in summary, The Outer Reaches had a lot of potential that it didn't quite achieve. However, the director shows impressive skill in creating cinematic space visuals and using creative camera angles. Maybe with more attention to storytelling and character reactions, their next short film could become a true sci-fi masterpiece.