Mission to Mars
Directed by Brian De Palma
- science fiction
- adventure
- drama
The story
When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster after reporting an unidentified structure, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors.
What it’s like
Cool, sleek sci-fi light on the surface: wide, sterile spacecraft interiors lit in clean white and cold blue, with the red Martian dust rendered in saturated ochre and rust that glows against the black of space. De Palma favours long, sweeping camera moves, often gliding through sets and around zero-gravity figures in slow orbit, so the frame feels weightless and deliberate. The score is grand and orchestral, swelling over the vast emptiness, while the quieter passages lean on hushed ambient hums and the tick of machinery. Its vibe is awe tinged with unease: wonder at the scale of the planet and the stars, undercut by a creeping sense of loss. It suits a weekend evening on a big screen, or a late-night watch when you want something expansive and a little eerie. Pacing is steady, with the drama built on crew relationships, loyalty, and grief rather than action. Intensity is moderate: a few tense, sudden deaths and one disturbing, graphic moment of bodily injury, but no sustained gore. It is for people who enjoy old-fashioned space adventure with a sense of mystery and a sincere, earnest heart.
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