Writer: Clive Dawson (Screenplay) Sydney J Bounds (Short Story)
Starring: Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas, Romola Garai, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostic, Tom Cullen
Plot: A group of astronaut explorers succumb one by one to a mysterious and terrifying force while collecting specimens on Mars.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: The Thing in Space
Story: The Last Days on Mars starts Vincent (Schreiber) and Rebecca (Garai) astronauts on Mars who are being hit by a dust storm as they give the warning to the rest of the team. The team is on a 6 month mission and they are on their final day, but haven’t found anything much to Aldrich (Williams) annoyance.
When Marko (Kostic) wants to collect one last sensor he takes Harrington (Cullen) with him following the instruction of Charles (Koteas). Aldrich still angry about being called back to the ship looks into Marko discovery she learns he has found something. The team is too late to look into the discovery but disaster happens when the ground collapse beneath him.
The team is now torn between a rescue or retrieval of the body and look into the discovery that he might have found which is the mission is actually about finding, potential life on Mars. After finding the hole empty Marko makes his return but not as they know him they have become possessed by something and have a blood lust now. The remaining survivors must first find somewhere to stay safe but also stay away from the possessed.
The Last Days on Mars manages to take the complete story of ‘The Thing’ and set it in space with technology that can try and help. It has all the same ideas with a discovery that is actually something that takes over a human host and makes them want to kill the rest. I don’t like just slamming a film but this could have at least tried to come up with some fresh because I basic idea is actually interesting but ends up just going down the line we have seen before. We also get very basic and boring characters that you just don’t care about. (2/10)
Actor Review
Liev Schreiber: Vincent Campbell takes charge of the situation after the captain dies and soon becomes the reluctant hero. Liev does the best he can with the very simple story. (4/10)
Elias Koteas: Charles Brunel captain of the mission who is responsible for everything that happens, he gives the final orders and will make sure everyone is safe. The captain goes out the way you would expect early but saving his crew. Elias does a solid job but never gets enough time to shine. (3/10)
Romola Garai: Rebecca Lane fellow scientist/astronaut who is on the mission and has to fight to survive. Romola is meant to be the lead female character and you baring remember any of her scenes. (2/10)
Olivia Williams: Kim Aldrich is the most determined to find something on the mission and doesn’t want to accept the mission is over but she soon ends up being the one to uncover what is really happening with the discovery. Olivia shows she is the best star in film as she clearly was the only one trying here. (6/10)
Johnny Harris: Robert Irwin is the psychologist on the mission who has to keep everyone under mental health on the mission, but nothing could prepare him for this mission. Johnny does the best he can to become the character you don’t like because of his actions. (3/10)
Goran Kostic: Marko Petrovic he is the one that makes the discovery and is the first to become possessed by what he finds. Goran does a solid job doing most of his work as the possessed creature. Goran isn’t around long enough to give any sort of good rating. (2/10)
Support Cast: The Last Days on Mars doesn’t really have any more characters to talk about a few radio voices and two more characters who don’t stick around too long. We don’t need a big support cast though so this works well.
Director Review: Ruairi Robinson – Ruairi didn’t write this but showed the inexperience in the genre failing to make something special. (3/10)
Horror: The Last Days on Mars has good horror elements but doesn’t reach any scare levels. (4/10)
Sci-Fi: The Last Days on Mars puts us in space for the story giving us solid sci-fi idea. (6/10)
Thriller: The Last Days on Mars should be very much edge of your seat but it really isn’t. (2/10)
Settings: The Last Days on Mars puts our crew on Mars creating a very good isolated situation for them. (10/10)
Special Effects: The Last Days on Mars manages to make the space look real and never relies on the effects. (7/10)
Suggestion: The Last Days on Mars is one to avoid it doesn’t offer any real redeeming qualities. (Avoid It)
Best Part: The setting.
Worst Part: The lack of originality
Improve Ideas: Make us care about the characters, be more original with what happens to the characters who are infected.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Similar Too: The Thing
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $7 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes
Tagline: The search for life is about to end.
Overall: This really is just The Thing in space but terrible.
Rating