'Voyagers' explores disappointment in space | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

'Voyagers' explores disappointment in space

The last half turns into "Among Us" with pleasure and power-obsessed teenagers, and that's not a good thing

109
​Sela looks outside of an air duct on a spaceship in sci-fi thriller "Voyagers." Actor Lily-Rose Depp is wearing a bright yellow hazmat suit while peeking outside the air duct that opens to space.
Photo credit: Lionsgate

What happens when you artificially breed children, raise them in isolation and ship them into space to colonize a distant planet? Nothin good, that's for sure.

The psychological concept alone is a bad idea from the movie's scientists, and the character logic doesn't get better in sci-fi thriller "Voyagers."

Written and directed by Neil Burger, the film brings up an interesting premise on primitive, natural instincts but ultimately falls flat.

Voyagers (2021 Movie) Official Trailer – Tye Sheridan, Lily-Rose Deppwww.youtube.com

The movie begins with a very bland character named Richard (Colin Farrell), one of the lead supervisors of the colonization project. Initially audiences don't know much about him except that he deeply cares for the children he babysits, especially Sela (Lily Rose-Depp). In fact, he cares so much that he's willing to go on a one-way space trip to lead them and speed up the project to launch earlier than planned.

Fast forward 10 years, and the kids are teenagers – the perfect age to start questioning authority and letting hormonal instincts run wild. But this is a calm ship with everyone assigned a role on the spacecraft. One day, Christopher (Tye Sheridan) and Zac (Fionn Whitehead) learn that the blue drink they ingest is actually inhibiting their pleasurable emotions and instincts. And as more teens learn the truth, the ship descends into chaos.

As engaging as the film is, it continues to disappoint into an "Among Us"-like finale. It baits audiences into thinking something different might happen when really the story goes exactly where one would predict. Within his first couple scenes, it's easy to see that Zac becomes the antagonist, and it's easy to spot other spoilers in the future.

And even though there are some decent performances, scenes mostly miss the mark with lazy writing and poor reactions. It seems illogical that these kids need to review an instruction manual for survival because they are trained from birth to follow orders and lead a ship on their own. The teens also make illogical decisions with no curiosity. In one scene Zac blasts a few locked doors with a weapon to chase after the protagonists. When the last door's window is covered, he doesn't think something looks off. Characters like Zac don't learn their lessons.

The overall tone of the film gives viewers whiplash as scenes flip-flop between life-and-death situations followed by calm scenes in which the characters act like they didn't just have a spaceship insurrection.

Maybe "Voyagers" is for some audiences, but others should follow their suspect gut feelings and skip it.

Score: 3/10

"Voyagers" premieres in theaters on Friday, April 9.

Follow the reporter on Twitter at @s_incorvaia.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

69063
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

3348
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

7478
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments