Two people stand in frame looking to the upper left corner of the frame. They look distraught. Still from Biosphere. Photo courtesy of Duplass Brothers Productions
While Biosphere isn’t the worst film I have seen in the past year, it didn’t stick out to me as anything special. Photo courtesy of Duplass Brothers Productions

Film Review: Biosphere

By
August 3, 2023

Film Reviews

Biosphere
Director: Mel Eslyn

Duplass Brother Productions
Released: 07.07

What I thought Mel Eslyn’s Biosphere was going to be and what I actually watched could not have been more different. While the film presents some interesting concepts, I was left feeling like I had just watched a half-finished movie.

Premiering at Sundance in 2022, Biosphere follows long-time friends Billy (Mark Duplass) and Ray (Sterling K. Brown) after an unspecified apocalyptic event leaves them confined to a biosphere. While stuck inside, Billy and Ray adapt and evolve in whatever way they can to survive.

As with many Duplass Brother Productions ( Duck Butter, ), Biosphere takes on a mumblecore feel, which I can’t say I’ve seen in many sci-fi films. The relationship between Billy and Ray is one of the movie’s saving graces; however, the film has a hard time finding its tone. One minute Billy and Ray will be doing an extended comedy bit about Mario, and in the next moment they’re having a deep conversation that seems to come out of left field. I didn’t know whether or not to take the plot seriously or to strap in for a more standard, IFC-esque comedy fare.

Biosphere tries to make a lot of interesting points about evolution, gender and masculinity. The sci-fi genre is a perfect place to explore these themes, but the inconsistency in the film’s tone throughout makes the discussions around these topics  less impactful. I feel if the script had gotten maybe one more pass a lot of these issues would be solved.

I’m a sucker for sci-fi in any way, shape or form. With all the more recent and notable sci-fi films taking a more serious approach to their story (Infinity Pool, Dune, etc.), I was ready for a less serious film. While Biosphere isn’t the worst film I have seen in the past year, it didn’t stick out to me as anything special and leaves me wishing for another attempt at a lower budget, indie sci-fi to come out in the next couple years. –Elle Cowley

Read more reviews of Duplass Brothers–inspired films:
Film Review: Emily the Criminal
Film Review: Language Lessons