Entertainment Blog #208 | I.S.S. [2023] - Mini-War Inside the I.S.S.

The International Space Station, or ISS, as you know, is oscillating around the earth, providing vital information about space as well as about the earth. It's mainly a joint project of USA and Russia. Also, it's used to conduct lab experiments that are hard to conduct in gravitational conditions.

I.S.S. is a 2023 American science fiction thriller film. It was directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite and written by Nick Shafir. Starring Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin, and Pilou Asbæk. The film was theatrically released in the United States on January 19, 2024, by Bleecker Street. Set aboard the International Space Station, the movie follows NASA astronaut Kira Foster, portrayed by DeBose, as she navigates a tense and perilous situation alongside her fellow crew members amidst a geopolitical crisis.

The movie kicks off with the arrival of three astronauts on the ISS, including the newbie, Dr. Kira Foster, who is a bioengineer. The first day was spent with the other guys—six in total, including 3 Americans and 3 Russians. The other day, when Kira was looking at the view of the earth through the windows, she sees some volcanic explosions kind of things.. At first she sees only two, but then it starts to grown everywhere.

All understood that something bad is going on on Earth. In order to avoid panicking every time they looked at the Earth, they decided to close the views. Then they tried to connect with the earth. Americans tried to connect with NASA, while Russians tried to connect with their station.

It seems like there's a nuclear war going on between Russia and the USA. While they were trying to connect to Earth, they knew that there was something bad going on down there so they didn't say that they were able to connect to each other. And the thing is, the astronauts from Russia and the USA received the same: to takeover the ISS at any cost.

So what will happen inside the ISS? Will there be a mini-war inside it?? It's up to you to find it..

As the story progresses, I.S.S. delves deeply into themes of trust, betrayal, and the inherent vulnerability of interpersonal relationships in the face of crisis. The ensemble cast delivers compelling performances, with Ariana DeBose as the film's resilient and resourceful protagonist, Kira Foster. The film's exploration of the human psyche under extreme pressure serves as a thought-provoking backdrop for adrenaline-pumping suspense and unexpected turns. With its blend of character-driven drama and heart-pounding thrills, I.S.S. provides a captivating cinematic experience that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end.

I.S.S. received a mixed response from critics. While praised for its appealing cast and the effective delivery of familiar thrills within the confined, character-driven drama of a space station setting, the film was also deemed somewhat formulaic and lacking in originality. With a 62% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 53 out of 100, the critical consensus acknowledged the film's strengths but noted its reliance on well-worn tropes. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a relatively lukewarm average grade of "C–," indicating a somewhat divisive reception among viewers, while PostTrak reported a 49% overall positive score, with only 27% stating they would definitely recommend the film to others.

I.S.S. performed moderately at the box office, reflecting a mixed critical response. Despite its intriguing premise and star-studded cast, the film failed to attract a large audience, grossing only a fraction of what larger-scale blockbusters did. The film's theatrical run generated moderate returns, but it did not achieve significant commercial success. Nonetheless, I.S.S. remains an intriguing addition to the science fiction thriller genre, providing audiences with a tense and claustrophobic exploration of human nature under extreme conditions, even if it did not achieve the expected level of box office success or critical acclaim.