Andrew Park

This film makes you remember just how good the original was and just how tired the sequels have become. It has none of the style or menace of the original and I thought it felt like Disney had made it in conjunction with Stephen Spielberg and John Carpenter. It felt like an 80's movie in style and special effects with a b movie 'pick em off one by one' uninspired jump scare plot and creatures reminiscent of the original 'The Thing'. , With a few edits to tone the language and gore down it would make a great Netflix movie for teens in the retro style of Stranger Things. The musical score is also a shocker, derivative and bland and ads nothing to create any atmosphere. In space nobody can hear you chuckle.

A mixed bag that took me a lot of post movie trawling of YT explanations to understand the film and appreciate it more. It's confusing throughout with a clumsy and badly acted first half an hour that serves to alienate the audience but it warms up in due course. Yet again C Nolan doesn't pay attention to the audio and we are left to guess whats being said in some parts which means the plot is near undecipherable. Some great acting from Elizabeth Debicki who gives the whole thing some humanity and some nice sparkling wit from Robert Pattinson. This is somewhat offset by Kenneth Branagh channeling his 'by the book Russian baddie'. I saw this in IMAX and to be honest it doesn't need it. Only the Amalfi coast is drop dead gorgeous and warrants IMAX, the rest could be streamed at home. Not his best by a long shot but still a cinematic mid Covid escapist blast.