Beyond the Screen: A Look at “Beyond”
In our weekly “Missed at the Box Office” feature, we highlight films that might not hit Russian cinemas but still deserve your attention.
The year is 2019. A routine spacewalk from the ISS turns tragic when an unidentified object appears near the station, pulling an American astronaut into its depths. As scientists worldwide scramble to understand this “cosmic visitor,” countless opaque black spheres emerge from the mysterious “portal,” encircling Earth. The visitors ignore military threats, politicians fail to ease the tension of the “intervention,” and only the scientists persist in their research. A special team of cybernetic organisms – robots with human brains – prepares for a mission into the heart of the enigmatic formation…
To grasp the film industry’s fascination with extraterrestrial contact, the supernatural, the search for the soul, and the possibility of life after death, one need only look at the number of films with “Beyond” in their titles. Add to that the movies and TV shows that Russian distributors unoriginally dub “За пределами” (“Beyond”) – four in the last five years alone – and the number becomes staggering. Unfortunately, these attempts to peer “beyond the horizon” aren’t always successful. It takes more than wild imaginings of alien encounters to make a compelling film; it requires skillful execution. But occasionally, a new release surprises even the most skeptical sci-fi fans.
Director Hasraf Dulull makes his feature film debut with “Beyond,” having previously directed short films and created special effects for movies like “The Dark Knight,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and “Hellboy.”
A Familiar Premise with a Twist
Hasraf Dulull’s sci-fi thriller “Beyond” isn’t groundbreaking. It presents the thousandth iteration of humanity encountering a mysterious, seemingly intelligent cosmic phenomenon. It features brave researchers willing to sacrifice themselves to answer the question of whether we are alone in the universe, and it inevitably includes a final twist that leans toward optimism. Don’t expect too much from the film. It lacks the sophisticated script needed for a deep philosophical exploration, the director’s inexperience sometimes affects the pacing, and the modest budget gives it a TV movie feel.
During production, the filmmakers didn’t anticipate significant interest from genre festivals. However, after the release of initial stills and videos, “Beyond” received invitations to several prestigious sci-fi film events.
What Makes “Beyond” Stand Out
Yet, the film has something. First, it’s engaging due to its pseudo-documentary format. It’s not “found footage” but rather a “science-pop TV program” akin to those on educational cable channels. The film crew is at the heart of the action, documenting the space agency and its leaders. Second, the film dedicates considerable time to the selection process for “Human 2.0,” the robot destined for the “black hole.” While naive, even the minor characters are well-developed and interesting. Finally, “Beyond” has a finale that isn’t as predictable as it seems. The ending is debatable, but it certainly leaves an impression.
Flaws and Forgiveness
“Beyond” is far from hard science fiction. The filmmakers clearly struggle with physics, even at a high school level. The ISS orbits in a geostationary orbit, the black hole inexplicably lacks gravity, and the justification for turning astronauts into cyborgs is so far-fetched that it would be ridiculed in the real world. But let’s be honest, we don’t expect mathematical formulas or lectures on celestial mechanics from this type of film; we want emotions, and “Beyond” delivers them, albeit modestly. The characters face difficult choices, losses, and unexpected obstacles, and they embody humanity’s drive for the new. For that, much can be forgiven.
Final Thoughts
Good science fiction is scarce these days. New releases often devolve into blockbuster spectacles of special effects or, conversely, attempt to mask low budgets with artificially inflated philosophy and pretentiousness. In this landscape, “Beyond” is a charming respite – a somewhat naive, endearingly amateur, yet original film with a positive message. The universe is full of mysteries. Step away from your gadgets and screens and look at the stars – they are beautiful and amazing!