PROSPECT: A Stunning Original Indie Sci-Fi Western

Though there is a plethora of both sci-fis and Westerns out in the cinema landscape, very occasionally some come along that stand out amongst the masses. These films may be familiar subject-wise or visually, yet they combine these familiar elements into something wholly unique.

Prospect, which combines the sci-fi and Western genres, easily fits within this category. It is a visually dazzling and thrilling adventure of a movie, and one which could be just the beginnings of an elusive career for its directors Christopher Caldwell and Zeek Earl.

The Pioneers of the Future

Prospect begins with two central characters. They are Cee (Sophie Thatcher) and her father Damon (Jay Duplass). Together, the two are set out on a mining expedition on a faraway moon, to acquire a mineral called Orlac, which is formed from creatures that live underground. Along the way, they hit a few roadbumps, and are uncertain as a result as to their return journey.

In addition, once on the moon while en route to a place called “The Queen’s Lair,” which supposedly has the largest collection of Orlac on the planet, they run into two men intent on striking their own riches, led by Ezra (Pedro Pascal). Damon and Ezra are at odds from the start, and after an unfortunate incident, Cee and Ezra are forced to team up for survival’s sake. Their mission is not only to continue the expedition, but also to somehow find a way off this desolate planet in the process.

The genre influences of Prospect are clear almost from the start, and directors Caldwell and Earl clearly homage the classic Westerns that focused on the early pioneering days of our country, which in that case would have been about the pursuit of gold. By switching the focus to the future, and infusing space travel into the mix, the film is then able to cleverly touch on many of these same thematic elements, showing the wildness of a world without laws, and the lengths that people will go to in order to strike it rich.

Another influence brought to mind is Joss Whedon‘s Firefly, which, if still mourning the loss of that show (as am I), you may be pleased to see something which warrants a comparison. Like Firefly, the message of Prospect is clear: humans may develop more advanced technologies in the future, but perhaps they never really change on the inside.

A Richly Realized World

What is different between here and the old West, though, is the vibrant world that our characters have found themselves in. This moon, whose vast jungles are simply known as being within the “green,” is otherworldly and eerily beautiful. The scenery is hazy, but the colors are anything but, with the stark greens especially sticking out. The closest comparison I can make is this year’s Annihilation, though the world of Prospect is far more grounded in a recognizable reality.

There are some individual shots in Prospect that are truly impressive to witness, especially given its lower budget, such as one where Cee is huddled down in a bed of grass gazing out at a massive silhouette of a moon in front of her. Awe-inspiring visuals combine with thunderous ambient sounds and operatic voices to create the feeling that we are truly witnessing something majestic. In addition to these individual shots, the film builds to an explosive climax, which is as tense as it is often shocking to witness.

A slight annoyance with Prospect on a technical level is the fact that the dialogue can sometimes be hard to hear, with the breathing of the characters through their helmets soon becoming bothersome. It’s something that must’ve been clearly hard to overcome, given that the characters cannot talk to each other without a helmet, and sound would be hard to capture through this, yet it can often be distracting at the same time. Still, on a visual and technical front, Prospect is amongst the more memorable indie sci-fis to come along in some time.

A Trio of Performances

Though with occasional cameos, including a brief scene featuring Andre Royo, Prospect is almost exclusively focused on the three aforementioned characters: Damon, Ezra, and Cee. Jay Duplass is fitting as a loving yet clearly flawed father; yet for a good portion of the film, it is just Cee and Ezra present. And thanks to the commitment of both Thatcher and Pascall, this is soon more than enough.

Sophie Thatcher excels as the film’s protagonist, bringing fortuitous strength to a character that, through circumstance, is forced to be mature beyond her years. And Pedro Pascal, who I have come to admire more and more with each role, falls into the character with ease, bringing a slow-drawling charisma to Ezra that reminded me quite a bit of old Western anti-heroes. Together, the two make just about the most unlikely yet somehow fitting partnership you would expect. Though initially marked by tragedy, their relationship is a mutually beneficial one, and it develops even beyond this into something resembling respect.

For a film that already had a lot going on – such as the world-building of its alien moon, a pioneering origin story set in the future, and a complicated father-daughter relationship – to add this equally complex partnership into the mix was a risky endeavour. Yet it’s one that undoubtedly succeeds, even given the film’s relatively short runtime.

Conclusion: Prospect

To conclude, Prospect is a film worthy of your time and energy. It’s an indie, but you wouldn’t know from looking at it, and its trio of fantastic performances more than ground the film. Much like the characters of Prospect, Christopher Caldwell and Zeek Earl are pioneers, creating a film that feels like the origin of something new. And it appears that others seem to agree, as Amazon Studios has recently purchased a sci-fi series from them. I truly cannot wait to see it.

Are you a fan of indie sci-fis? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!