Veron The Reviewer

A science-fiction thriller with a more deliberate, philosophical undercurrent, Sunshine is a remarkable movie concerning a bunch of scientists and astronauts attempting to use a massive bomb to "restart" the dying sun. The visuals are gorgeous, the script, courtesy of Alex Garland who later wrote and directed Ex Machina and Annihilation, is quite intellectual and focused more on realism and the questions of morality that the characters face as things go wrong and resources dwindle. There are brave sacrifices and queries of which crew member is more valuable to the mission, all within a framework of plausible science. The score by John Murphy is also great, and a particular track ("Adagio in D Minor") is instantly iconic. Every actor feels very believable in their roles, and while the characters don't have a lot of depth and are largely defined by their contributions to the expedition, the actors' performances help make their characters come to life and feel ...

Knock at the Cabin is a slow-burn thriller with simmering tension from the very first scene, featuring excellent performances from Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, and Ben Aldridge. Four strangers break into a small cabin with a family vacationing inside, and quickly demands that the family make an impossible choice. The film is very contained, being set mainly in and around the cabin, and while it's not truly scary, the palpable tension felt in every scene owing to the sheer unpredictable nature of the strangers' actions more than makes up for a lack of scares, and the committed performances from Groff and Aldridge (and Kristen Cui, who plays the young daughter of Groff and Aldridge's characters) really helps to sell this bizarre and terrifying situation that the family finds itself in, and Dave Bautista is an excellent antagonist. Quietly imposing, clearly doesn't want to hurt anyone, and is very understanding of how the choice the family has to make is causing them a l...