The Titan

Sam Worthington and Taylor Schilling star in an atmospheric thriller exploring genetic evolution.

This futuristic sci-fi takes place in 2048 where famine and war are pushing the earth towards extinction. The military powers see no alternative but to inhabit planet Titan, but first they need to train a group of soldier volunteers. These groundbreaking experiments of man’s genetic evolution into space are led by Professor Martin Collinwood (Tom Wilkinson). Lt Rick Janssen (Sam Worthington), one of the first volunteers, is soon relocated to a special home with his wife Abi (Taylor Schilling) and son Lucas (the ubiquitous Noah Jupe, from A Quiet Place and Suburbicon)...

First-time director Lennart Ruff creates a suitably atmospheric and creepy environment. The action is seen through the eyes of Rick’s wife, Abi, who is a doctor and begins to suspect that the authorities are not entirely truthful about the nature of their experiments. There is a strong chemistry between Worthington and Schilling and overall this is a much more satisfying experience than The Astronaut’s Wife made in 1999 with Charlize Theron and Johnny Depp and which covered similar themes.

GEORGE SAVVIDES

Cast: Sam Worthington, Taylor Schilling, Tom Wilkinson, Agyness Deyn, Nathalie Emmanuel, Corey Johnson, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Noah Jupe.

Dir Lennart Ruff, Pro Arash Amel, Fred Berger, Leon Clarance, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Ben Pugh, Screenplay Max Hurwitz, from a story by Arash Amel, Ph Jan-Marcello Kahl, Pro Des Julian R. Wagner, Ed Ann-Carolin Biesenbach, Music Fil Eisler.

Amel Company/The Motion Picture Capital-Signature Entertainment.
97 mins. UK/Spain/USA. 2018. Rel: 13 April 2018. Cert. 15.