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I.S.S., ISS or International Space Station… this really is one of the most difficult titles to search for on the internet. If you include the full stops, Google doesn’t know what you’re talking about, and without them, it just thinks you’ve misspelt “is”.
But at least, in space, no-one can hear your grammar problems, as Americans Kira (Ariana DeBose – Wish) and Christian (John Gallagher Jr – 10 Cloverfield Road) are heading up there on a Soyuz craft, to join the other American, Gordon (Chris Messina – Air), along with – given that this is a joint venture between the US and Russia – Nika (Masha Mashkova), Nicholai (Costa Ronin – Obliterated) and Alexey (Borgen‘s Pilou Asbæk – a Dane, posing as a Russian, but that’s just a fact outside the film, not a plot point).
We see Kira setting in, along with her mice experiment in zero gravity, just at the same time as Nika has celebrated 50 days up there. But while there’s enough time for Kira to insist upon all the men that she’s not interested in the opposite sex, there’s not quite enough time for her to declare her personal pronouns, before something is amiss on the ol’ homestead, and the Americans get a message stating that Russia and the US are at war, and to take control of the ISS “at any cost“.
As such, this leads to zero trust between the US and Russian astronauts, wondering who can you trust, even on this vessel, where the whole point is to work together AND have mutual trust, since you all need to each other to get on.
Before I conclude, let’s get away from the fact that with such limited information from those down on the ground, there’d be no reason to put yourselves in jeopardy. Plus, what exactly would you do when you have “control of the ISS”? If the Earth’s gone to hell in a handcart, it’ll be the safest place to be for all of you!
That said, despite the utter ridiculous of the plot – as well as a fight in zero gravity, I like nonsense-in-space films like this, and this one is played by all onscreen as if it’s believable, and comes across as very compelling and gripping as the tension builds.
However, like Boy Kills World, it’ll completely go under the radar, especially given the fact that it had just ONE showing per day.
I.S.S. is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 96 minutes
Release date: April 26th 2024
Studio: Bleecker Street
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 8/10
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Producers: Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon
Screenplay: Nick Shafir
Music: Anne Nikitin
Cast:
Dr. Kira Foster: Ariana DeBose
Gordon Barrett: Chris Messina
Christian Campbell: John Gallagher Jr
Weronika Vetrov: Masha Mashkova
Nicholai Pulov: Costa Ronin
Alexey Pulov: Pilou Asbæk
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.