Village Voice by Alan Scherstuhl
It's just zombies versus an international research station on the wastes of the Red Planet, with all that such a premise promises.
United Kingdom, Ireland · 2013
Rated PG-13 · 1h 38m
Director Ruairi Robinson
Starring Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams
Genre Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror
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On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claims all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses and he falls into a deep crevice and near certain death. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another vanishes, they start to suspect that the life-form they have discovered is not without danger.
Village Voice by Alan Scherstuhl
It's just zombies versus an international research station on the wastes of the Red Planet, with all that such a premise promises.
The Hollywood Reporter by David Rooney
The unapologetically derivative sci-fi outing doesn’t have the scripting muscle to deliver on its early promise. But the solid cast keeps it reasonably gripping nonetheless.
New York Daily News by Elizabeth Weitzman
On the bright side, Robinson’s unlucky astronauts are played by Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams and Romola Garai. All of these actors approach their potential demise with impressive conviction.
Schreiber saves it to an extent with some unusual performance choices, but when you compare this ending to the emotional supernova of Danny Boyle’s “Sunshine” it comes way short.
While it earns high marks for Jon Henson’s production design, this murkily derivative sci-fi-horror entry sets its sights disappointingly low in terms of story and ideas.
It’s a monster movie made with energy, but no real enthusiasm, and its setting just makes it feel like a long way to go to get the same old thing.
Once the undead start walking, however, the film loses some of its footing: Most of the bloodletting is staged with quick-cut inelegance better suited to the hack horror production of your choosing, though there’s still a potent air of hopelessness that lingers as the cast is winnowed away "Ten Little Indians"–style.
The A.V. Club by Mike D'Angelo
Even had it premiered at, say, London’s Frightfest, The Last Day On Mars would be a disappointment. What it was doing at Cannes is a mystery.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service by Roger Moore
Though it rarely looks as malnourished as say, “Europa Report” or “Moon,” Last Days on Mars does show how starved of new ideas sci-fi cinema is.
The New York Times by Stephen Holden
The Last Days on Mars ultimately can’t transcend its pulpy roots.
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