Life

Synopsis

Life (2017) is a gripping sci-fi thriller centered on a team of international researchers aboard the International Space Station who discover a rapidly evolving life form from a Martian soil sample. As the organism grows and demonstrates frightening intelligence and aggression, the crew faces a terrifying choice: to contain it or risk bringing it back to Earth. The film explores themes of survival, curiosity, and the ethical dilemmas of scientific discovery in the unforgiving environment of space. Featuring intense performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Rebecca Ferguson, Life delivers suspense and existential dread, keeping viewers on edge as containment slips further from grasp.

Cast

• 

  Jake Gyllenhaal

  Dr. David Jordan

• 

  Ryan Reynolds

  Rory Adams

• 

  Rebecca Ferguson

  Miranda North

• 

  Hiroyuki Sanada

  Sho Murakami

• 

  Olga Dihovichnaya

  Ekaterina Golovkina

• 

  Ariyon Bakare

  Hugh Derry

Reviews

Life received a mixed but generally positive reception from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 67% rating, with the consensus highlighting its effective suspense and visual effects, though some felt it played it safe within the genre's conventions. The site's critical consensus reads that Life "delivers solid sci-fi thrills even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of its genre inspirations." IMDb users rate it 6.6/10, reflecting moderate enthusiasm with praise often given to the film's tense atmosphere and performances, especially Jake Gyllenhaal's. Metacritic, which aggregates professional critic reviews, assigns Life a score of 54 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews. Some critics appreciated the film's pacing and claustrophobic tension, while others found it derivative compared to other sci-fi horror staples like Alien. For instance, The Guardian commended the "solid performances and smart, succinct storytelling," whereas Variety remarked that Life "fails to reach the existential depths and scares it aims for, settling into a safer, more predictable narrative." Overall, Life is appreciated for its thrilling moments and strong cast, though it may not satisfy those seeking groundbreaking innovation in the sci-fi horror genre.