"Ten years ago, they took our planet. Today, we take it back." This is Captive State. This crime science fiction thriller film directed by Rupert Wyatt, and co-written by Wyatt and Erica Beeney. After 10 years of extraterrestrial occupation, residents of Chicago must decide whether to continue to live under alien rule or support the resistance. When young Gabriel Drummond joins the insurgency, he soon finds himself under careful scrutiny from a shadowy figure who's trying to crush the rebellion and its plans for freedom.
In late August 2016, it was reported that Participant Media had won a heated bidding war for the rights to the film and officially announced the film with Rupert Wyatt set to direct from a script he co-wrote with Erica Beeney. In March 2018, it was reported that Rob Simonsen would compose the film's score, with original songs contributed by Simonsen with Kill the Noise and Mija. By mid February 2017, John Goodman, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, Machine Gun Kelly, Vera Farmiga, Kevin Dunn, Madeline Brewer, and D. B. Sweeney were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, with a budget of $25 million, and took place in Chicago, Illinois and Cinespace Chicago Film Studios.
The film stars Goodman, Sanders, Majors, Kelly, Farmiga, Dunn, Brewer, and Sweeney. The cast gave solid enough performances. But, at times, did come off as average due to not being given enough for certain parts of the film.
Audacious, violent and disquieting, Captive State is a science fiction action flick that is just as good as any B-movie science fiction film has the right to be. The action scenes are spectacular, and the story at the movie's core is evocative and engaging. Wyatt proves himself a highly skilled action merchant, packing the film with dynamic, sometimes disorienting camera movements and coming up with some memorable imagery. Despite being led by Rupert Wyatt's stylish direction, some impressive special effects, and solid performances, the film doesn't quite provide a breath of fresh air to the genre. It's a relatively modest B-movie infused with a B-grade script. The film has some life to it as a sci-fi action film, but every time anyone opens their mouth, man or beast, you'll feel like someone figured out a way to sneak in groundbreaking CGI into your high schooler's class play. It's a satisfying film that easily rests on the CGI and action. The story has big ideas but is underwritten, the acting is pedestrian at best, and though the CGI apes are very well actualized, they still look cartoony at times. It is frustrating in places, but overall, it's entertaining. It's a visual treat that should remind audiences just why they love to see science fiction - because every now and then they are enjoyable films. Paced like a rocket but de-politicized and de-poeticized, adorned with sprawling camera movements yet trapped in shallow screen space, the film clomps through with a flatness that makes its vision of the beginning of mankind's new beginning seem weirdly soothing.
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