High-concept sci-fi has a lot of homes, but HBO is a pretty good one. The theaters struggle to promote things like they used to, but an at-home streaming service benefits from that weakness. Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s I.S.S. flopped hard this year, but it has finally found its audience through Max. I saw the project in a near-empty theater, but I can only partially defend it as a streaming offering. It deserves some attention for the premise alone
HBO Brought This Tragic Sci-fi Flop Back Down to Earth
I.S.S. is one of the best examples of a film taking its name from its setting. As the film opens, a new American astronaut joins the current crew of the International Space Station. Three Americans live and work in harmony with three Russian cosmonauts. Everyone is relatively happy, spirits are high, and the language barrier only rarely causes severe awkwardness. Their mission hits a surprising snag when both groups notice a disturbance on the surface.
A nuclear war breaks out on Earth, prompting the US and Russian governments to send messages to the space station. Tensions ramp up immediately as both sides question their allegiances. No one seems to want a fight, but they’re all justifiably terrified. The ultimate symbol of international collaboration falls apart as conflict destroys the world. It’s a stellar premise for a claustrophobic thriller, but it doesn’t fully live up to its ideas.
HBO has a solid selection of sci-fi classics. The streaming service has both halves of Dune, and it’s hard to suggest looking elsewhere for space-based entertainment. I.S.S. is probably enjoying the noticeable bump that unsuccessful theatrical releases get when they reach streaming services. If I.S.S. had dropped into homes first, it probably wouldn’t have made much of a splash. It still didn’t have a significant impact, but at least people are watching it now.
The film doesn’t have any big stars or memorable franchise connections. Instead, it’s a classic, high-concept thriller that might have gained attention a decade or two ago. I don’t think it’s fair to say the film deserved too much better, but it was worth talking about. Critics were reasonably divided on the project. It’s a film that sets reasonable goals and meets them. It’s not ambitious enough to be shocking, but it’s still well worth watching.
I.S.S. flopped hard for a low-budget sci-fi film. It reportedly made $6.6 million on a $13.8 million budget and barely attracted a mention from most outlets. Did it deserve better? Perhaps a bit, but it’s not going to light the world on fire. HBO might be a better place for the project. It’s a tight, 96-minute thriller in a fascinating location. Take a trip to the I.S.S. and watch a rare moment of international collaboration fall apart.
