Film Review: SETTLERS (2021): An Interesting but Slow-Moving Scifi Drama

Settlers Review

Settlers (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by Wyatt Rockefellar, and starring Sofia Boutella, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Brooklynn Prince, Nell Tiger Free, Jonny Lee Miller and Natalie Walsh.

Wyatt Rockefellar wrote and directed the new film Settlers and is quite a visionary. The story of human settlers on the Martian frontier fighting for survival is imagined in a unique way and the movie stars a well selected group of actors. However, the movie suffers from a mid-section that moves rather slowly before it eventually picks up with an interesting climax.

Reza (the talented Jonny Lee Miller) and Ilsa (Sofia Boutella) are raising their young daughter Remmy (Brooklynn Prince) in an abandoned area on the surface of Mars at the film begins. To their horror, they find the word LEAVE written on the window of their home. A stranger named Jerry (Ismael Cruz Cordova) soon appears and when Reza dies, Jerry becomes the head of the household whether Ilsa and Remmy want him to or not.

As the plot progresses, Jerry enters a relationship with Ilsa which causes Remmy to become very upset which is quite understandable being that Remmy lost her father. Ilsa becomes torn between trying to forge a relationship with Jerry and respecting the wishes of her daughter. Something happens and a character is taken away from the film which further complicates the plot. One of the characters who remains is Remmy and the film skips ahead to years later where Nell Tiger Free takes over the role from Prince. The last scenes of the picture are compelling as Remmy must decide between staying with what is “safe” or trying to find whatever is left to find out there in the world.

This film, especially in the first hour, belongs to young actress Brooklynn Prince. She garnered much acclaim for her role in the 2017 film The Florida Project. Prince does a lot of running in the picture and there are probably one too many scenes of her trying to escape places on foot. Prince does, however, add genuine depth to the role she is playing as she befriends a robot who she names Steve and, also, maintains a friendship with a pig similar to the bond Nicolas Cage had with his pig in a recent film which was appropriately titled Pig. Remmy’s friendship with Steve the robot is very intriguing and any similarities between Steve and R2-D2 or Johnny Number Five are, I’m sure, purely coincidental. Steve ultimately saves the older Remmy in one scene and the robot becomes the film’s most likable character. The robot does not talk, just to be clear.

As the older Remmy, Nell Tiger Free is a compelling screen presence who acquits herself admirably playing the part. Free has a fierceness that is definitely what the role needs in the later scenes as the character is forced to make difficult choices.

Ismael Cruz Cordova. as Jerry. is appropriately mysterious with a character whose presence in the film can disturb the audience with his uncertain motives. Sofia Boutella, as Ilsa, is a well-realized female character whose presence in the film is commanding though Prince ultimately steals the movie right out from under her. Boutella is especially strong in her scenes with Cordova and she also captures the love Ilsa has for her daughter rather effectively.

Settlers has a midsection that plods, unfortunately, despite the solid performances. The ending is appropriately thought-provoking, however and the film is definitely interesting to look at with its unique visuals as it realizes life on another planet. There is more action in the opening scenes than anywhere else in the film but there is a lot of character development throughout, perhaps a little too much for the film’s own good.

Ultimately, Settlers is an interesting work of science-fiction that will appeal most to fans of the genre. Its character driven plot and unique suggestions found in the story are certainly the highlights. Prince is, without a doubt, a talent to watch so keep an eye on her too.

Rating: 6/10

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