94. Native; movie review

NATIVE
Cert 12A
86 mins
BBFC advice: Contains suicide references, moderate threat, violence, injury detail

Perhaps Native didn't translate well to an iPad on which I watched it as we flew out to our winter break in the Canaries.
But I am afraid I found it as enthralling as a badly acted school play with a set which reminded me of Dr Who in the 1970s.
I fear I must have missed the deep meaning behind Daniel Fitzsimmons sci-fi movie because, on face value, it is convoluted and a bit daft.
It stars Rupert Graves and Ellie Kendrick as space travellers who are accompanying a ship of embryos which will populate a new planet.
In itself, that is a straightforward if unimaginative premise.
What is not explained is why there are only two crew who don't seem to like each other very much - consequently, loneliness or even madness becomes a risk.
Or how or why they have to contact mission control through telepathy to their respective twins.
It means that the two receive different messages and, therefore, there is an obvious recipe for mistrust and envy.
And why is there such formality on the mission? Has laughing been outlawed?
Native did rescue a mark with a giant twist near to its conclusion but overall its strange stiffness makes it one of the turkeys of 2018 so far.

Reasons to watch: Sci fi fans might see more merit than me
Reasons to avoid: So strangely stiff and dull

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: Yes
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 2.5/10

Director's quote - Daniel Fitzsimmons: "One of the reasons I love sci-fi stories is that you are given a little bit of latitude to bend and break certain accepted ways of doing things."

The big question - Is there life in outer space?

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