The grass isn’t greener on the other side in Settlers, the feature debut of writer/director Wyatt Rockefeller.
The little family roughing it on a dusty farm seems normal until the trailer reveals futuristic gadgets and the daughter begins asking strange questions about Earth. Turns out the family is sequestered on an isolated settlement on Mars, their presence an uncertain test of whether humanity can turn the planet into a new home. A sinister undercurrent exists even before strange men show up and attack, the survivors bringing rumors that all other settlements have failed.
The strangely ponderous tone indicates that Rockefeller hasn’t made a space epic. Instead, the setup is geared towards a grinding buildup of dread and mystery, a difficult tone to pull off for any filmmaker, especially one so green. The shorts Rockefeller has done weren’t science fiction, either, so this whole thing will be quite the test.
At least it’s clear he at least wrote something compelling, enough to land money to pull off small-scale sci-fi and to attract a noteworthy cast. Sofia Boutella and Jonny Lee Miller star as the parents of the family while the daughter is played by The Florida Project star Brooklynn Prince. Ismael Cruz Cordova (who’s star might be about to explode with a role in that very expensive Lord of the Rings series) also appears as the main usurper.
It’s a curious project, to be sure, but one that science fiction fans should probably keep an eye on.
Settlers is directed by Wyatt Rockefeller and stars Sofia Boutella, Jonny Lee Miller, and Brooklynn Prince. It will be released in the US in theaters and on-demand and in the UK on July 23rd, 2021. Further release dates are not currently known.
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