Synopsis:
With Earth virtually destroyed, Bran Marshall flees to the Rhea, a planet hostile to Earthlings. Escaping onto a Rhean supply ship, he finds the crew slaughtered, with the only survivor a female warrior named Ohsha. As the two try to kill one another, the ship is damaged by meteorites. Bran (Moyer) and Ohsha must join forces to salvage the craft before it impacts the planet below — and the humans that live there.
If our current civilization was somehow able to start over on a new planet, would anything change? Would we become more united as a human race or would continue with our inexcusable trend of hate? We’ve monopolized hate in recent years but oftentimes it comes down to where you’re from or what your skin looks like. All stemming from calculated subterfuge that we have all fell for and continue to feed into in some capacity. However, I like to think that the majority of us mean well and are trying to do better and want to do better. That said, Tom Paton’s G-Loc is a portal into the future that exposes the present. In recent years the talk of colonizing Mars has materialized into various actions from rovers to Mars One. With Earth’s future being uncertain due to our selfish human existence, the future of our species needs a plan b while we attempt to inform others that we need to save plan a (Earth). Unlike our reality, in this film, inhabiting a planet is the new norm and humanity must begin anew on Rhea. Unfortunately, migrating billions of people takes a very, very long time. It’s enough time for old habits to morph into extremely dangerous new ones.
No longer are border closings a thing, they close the planet now. Therein lies the film’s perspective. From the point of view of a white man that must leave Earth or die, he is viewed as lesser than by Rheans and is not welcome on the new plant. With lies being passed down about Earthers making them look villainous and repugnant, it’s something many disenfranchised people can relate to and sheds a light for those who don’t understand. Its social commentary on what refugees feel and experience is made very palatable and is laid out in a way that you have no choice but to understand. While it is a sci-fi film, G-Loc ultimately uses space to relay a greater message about humanity. Illustrating how we are all more similar than we are different no matter our birthplace. Nevertheless, the science, technology, and concept of the film definitely makes it a sci-fi resident. I enjoyed this film a great deal. With it’s messaging, chemistry, ambiance, and overall tone, I enjoyed the film a great deal. Watching it in a pitch-black room really gives the movie a deep-space feel. Its rewatchability is a medium-high.
Oh yeah, my interview with two stars of the film is down below.
Plot & Pace
The story follows Bran as he is determined to keep a promise he made to his daughter. He’s is seemingly floating through space as a refugee in a damaged spacecraft with his holographic companion, Edison. They stumble upon a supply ship that initially appears abandoned. After discovering some dead bodies on board, Bran quickly realizes there is danger near and must survive in order to reach his destination. Shortly after he has an altercation with a Rhean named Ohsha. While trying to find common ground, the real threat is asleep in a chamber and is motivated to stop them at all costs. The Earther and Rhean must now put aside their differences and save thousands of people as well as themselves. I thought the pacing of the film felt like an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was calm and quiet as you are absorbing your surroundings, like floating in space. Not long after, something is amiss and all hell breaks loose.
Characters & Chemistry
The actors do a fantastic job embodying the story and relaying its message. Bran ( Stephen Moyer) is determined to continue living and migrate to the newly inhabited planet. Moyer is able to add perspective to the plight of refugees that may be more palatable coming from him. Paired with Ohsha (Tala Gouveia) who is gravely misinformed, the two unveil the complexities and injudicious actions that are prevalent in the conversation of immigration. Decker (Casper Van Dien), like Bran, is motivated by family but the two have very different ways of achieving their goals. Their goals are common, perspectives are different, but there’s only one correct way to see change and live.
Director: Tom Paton
Writer: Tom Paton
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 32m
Rating: 4 out of 5
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
