Movie Review: IO

Hey movie fans

I'm back at it again, getting down deep into the trenches and taking movie bullets for you so you don't have to.

I saw the trailer for this movie and I thought it looked really interesting, I liked the concept it was dealing with and from the cut scenes used it looked like a decent watch.

I'm also very much a sucker for any movies that have some sort of space and post apocalyptic theme going, so I was pretty psyched going into this one.

The movie draws similar concepts from titles in the genre like The Martian, Interstellar and Passengers all of which were pretty good films, so I'd say it was a pretty ambitious project to take on and sell to the audience.

In case you're wondering the movie's title is pronounced "Eye-oh" , I assume its a play on the fact that the characters are supposedly the last two people, or that there is now a second planet humans are migrating to, I don't know much about the title but I do know about this movie.

So lets see what it is about shall we?

What is IO About?

Sam (Margaret Qualley), one of the last survivors on a post-cataclysmic Earth where climate change has destroyed the atmosphere, animals are no longer around, the air is filled with ammonia and there are only pockets of regions high up like in Mountains where humans can still stay safe for the time being.

The majority of earths suviviours are periodically leaving earth for a new planet called IO.

Henry (Danny Husdon) is an acclaimed scientist and along with his daughter Sam they have dedicated their time to finding a way for humans to adapt and survive, rather than abandon their world.

Sam also has an another complication, she has to choose between helping her father complete his research or leave earth to be with Elon, some dude they don't explain why but they are in a long distance relationship.

The final shuttles are now scheduled to leave the planet for the distant colony and while her determination to stay is strong, it is then rocked by the arrival of another survivor, Micah (Anthony Mackie).

Sam must decide whether to journey with him to join the rest of humanity and begin life anew, or stay to fight for Earth's survival.

Poster for IO - Image source cinematerial

What thought of IO

What an epic sounding story don't you think? I got chills just reading it, it sounds freaking epic, so how does it play out on screen? Well its so far from epic, I would recommend you actually pull your phone out and spent your time splitting your attention between the two because this movie falls flat on so many levels. It's like listening to your girlfriend tell you about a boring dream she had for 90 minutes straight.

I was going to save the beatings for later in the review but I can't, it was BAD!

The costumes, scenery, and visuals are interesting to look at, but nothing to write home about, for a space movie there is no CGI which is fine but come on its a space movie, the trailer hints at action but there is no action in this movie.

It basically plays out like a love story between two surviviours who really have no interest in one another.

The actors are decent, but don't have much to work with. It feels like the director was yelling, "more monotone, less passion!"

The main character Sam, is so stale, flat and boring she drags down whats left of the story, you really don't feel anything for her or care what decisions she makes.

Mackie struggles with Twilight level dialogue while a surprisingly graceful score beautifully frames the drama and emotion that should be there but simply isn't. A crushing waste of everyone's time.

The script is plodding and full of unnecessary mythology references that will go over most peoples heads and even having knowledge of the stories they were referencing I don't know how it applies.

I don't like to throw around the word 'pretentious' a lot, but this is certainly that at times but this movie doesn't get to do this when it story line is this empty.

The plot holes and inconsistencies are grossly apparent.

• If the world is dying why is your grass so immaculate
• How did your dad die?
• Why do you briefly mention your mom and death but not explain it as any motivation to stay and complete your research
• How did you meet Elon and why is this long distance relationship so important to you?
• How do you cheat on Elon with the first man you see if his so important to you?

Trust me there are many more I'm just over it now lol

If you finally make it to the end the twist you'll feel like what was the point of setting up the movie in the first place? It really goes nowhere. There's nothing to think about, question or feel like you were pulled in a different direction.

Trailer for IO

My rating for IO

It's a real pity, I feel with better direction and a more meaty script it could have fallen into a nice spot of an intriguing watch. It also has a very shove-climate-change-down-your-throat kind of attitude that even as someone who believes the scientists on climate change feels forced.

This movie does absolutely nothing for the genre and will quickly be forgotten. I suggest Netflix stop trying to take on space movies as its gotten progressively worse.

Annihilation was good but weird, Extinction was ok-ish, Cloverfield Paradox was a confusing mess and IO is just bad. Please Netflix stop and think about what you are doing.

I would have to give this movie 3 surviours out of 10

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