On reading the other reviews I felt compelled to add a more positive note to the movie.
Of primary importance I think to bear in mind when reviewing the movie is the ultra low budget of $5000. It must limit what can be achieved with set design, sfx, vfx, production, etc. Also, this film is a first effort of the production company, and was a community project, with cast and crew donating their time. That said, this movie is an astounding success, given the constraints. I have seen much worse results with 50+ times the budget, and the backing of a studio. The script was a good starting point, with reasonable story lines, subplots, and suspenseful moments. It might have made the primary plot a bit clearer, and seemed to rush over some critical points, but the dialogue was well written, and handled well by the cast. The acting, while variable at times, was also engaging, given that many of the cast are having their debut, and most have less than 5 acting credits. The camera work was at times poorly lit, but it did create a claustrophobic atmosphere, which worked well. The sfx/vfx and set design deserve special mention considering again the budgetary constraints. When I think back to the days of the immensely successful Blakes 7 and the cardboard sets that wobbled at every possible opportunity, I think this movie creates a credible world, and visually was well designed. The musical department must take a bow for the awards they have already received. The music worked well, was non intrusive, and fit the scenes perfectly. One can ignore some of the weaknesses, which might easily have been overcome with a bit of extra effort, but they do not hamper your enjoyment of the movie. The implementation of ZeroG and the vacuum of space might have been considered a bit more (eg the coffee maker), but its not a deal breaker. Also some of the "engineering" was a bit "Blue Peter" or "Sesame Street": a bit too DIY compared to the rest of the production, but its forgivable. All in all, I think this was an amazing first effort, and well worth a watch. Its the kind of movie you could well enjoy with a few mates and some popcorn...if only to view it critically, find the flaws, and then consider how in Heaven you could even start to produce it yourself. Congratulation to the cast, crew and production team...an excellent result!
