400 Days (film)
| 400 Days | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Matt Osterman |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Matt Osterman |
| Starring | |
| Music by |
Wojciech Golczewski Sean McMahon |
| Cinematography | Bo Hakala |
| Edited by | Nicholas Larrabure |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | XLrator Media[2] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
400 Days is an independent 2015 American psychological science fiction film written and directed by Matt Osterman. It stars Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, Ben Feldman, and Dane Cook as astronauts sent on a 400 day long simulated mission to a distant planet to test the psychological effects of deep space travel. In the U.S., 400 Days premiered in theaters, on-demand, and digitally on January 12, 2016. It is scheduled for a television release on the SyFy network in Fall, 2016.[3]
Plot
Four astronauts; Captain Theo Cooper (Brandon Routh), Dr. Emily McTier (Caity Lotz), Bug Kieslowski (Ben Feldman), and Cole Dvorak (Dane Cook), embark on a 400-day long simulation intended to study the long-term effects of space travel. With the promise that a successful mission will ensure their eventual travel into space, they are told the failure to complete the experiment will eliminate their chances to have a career in space travel. Additionally, they are warned that there will be unexpected challenges designed to test them, and that it will all be part of the simulation.
After a brief press conference, the exited crew of four descend into an underground bunker serving as the simulation’s ship, thus beginning the 400 Day journey. As the days go on, the crew is increasingly challenged by the simulation, and by each other. Partway through, loud tremors felt and heard through the entire ship causes them to lose communication with mission control. These tremors, possibly caused by a simulated asteroid field, also causes their solar panels to fail, providing only enough power for critical systems.
Alongside these problems, the crew deals with extreme boredom, pent-up energy, and constant suspicion. This suspicion, largely held by Dvorak, rises after Emily administers immunization booster shots, and insists they are required of the mission. Dvorak instantly questions these injections, claiming them to be hallucinogenic drugs. Dvorak, indeed, has several hallucinations in which he sees coded messages on his computer, as well as profuse bleeding when he looks into a mirror. However, he recognizes these episodes as hallucinations, which seems to increase his determination to make it through the experiment. Bug also begins to hallucinate about his son, passed away just prior to the simulation. Deepening his problems, Dvorak kills a mouse Bug has found and wants to keep, claiming that it is unsanitary and unnecessary to their mission.
As the simulation progresses, the team settles deeper into their separate spaces, until they discover a dirty and disheveled man who has found his way into their secure bunker through the simulated ship’s fresh-air ventilation shaft. Though they initially subdue him, he escapes to the surface shortly afterward. Due to this strange occurrence, as well as the increasing carbon dioxide levels in the ship, Theo decides that the best move for the team is to leave. Dvorak opposes this decision and refuses to let anyone leave, determined to finish the simulation. Bug ends the standoff by knocking Dvorak unconscious. Bug, Theo, and Emily go outside and discover an entirely changed surface. It is a cold, dark, and dust-filled terrain. Bug takes samples of the dust and they return to the ship to test the materials. Upon testing, they discover a compound in the dust known only to exist in moon rocks. Dvorak (now awake) believes this is part of the test, and that the surface was intentionally changed to make them think they were somewhere else. The entire crew decides to exit the ship and explore their new surroundings.
They discover an abandoned house and seek refuge and answers inside. They discover pictures of the former resident and identify him to be the man who broke into their simulated ship. They also find a map of the surrounding area with one name, ‘Tranquility’, not crossed off in pen. The group decides to go to this town, hoping to find any other sign of what happened. The town they find has electricity, and a small group of people quietly eyeing their every move. Zell (Tom Cavanagh) invites them into his Diner to eat, suggesting he knows what happened to the world.
In the diner the crew eats and has a very vague conversation with Zell. He reveals that something happened, though no one is certain what, and as a result the moon cracked and created an enormous dust cloud that fell to the earth, blocking the sun. Dvorak scoffs at this suggestion, still believing to be in a simulation, and leaves to go to the town’s local bar. The crew, deciding it better to stick together, follow Dvorak and sit with him as he drinks. After a while, Theo, Emily, and Bug realize Dvorak has gone missing, and go back to the diner where Zell has offered them a place to sleep.
After giving Bug first watch duty, Emily and Theo wake up to find themselves alone. When they ask Zell about their missing friends, he insists that Theo and Emily arrived alone. Suspecting danger, and being concerned for their crew, the pair leave the diner and investigate the surrounding area for their friends. After a failed attempt in locating their other crewmates that resulted in Theo’s accidental stabbing, Theo and Emily retreat back to the ship. As Theo closes the entrance hatch, he sees that they were followed by Zell and two other men, all holding weapons and pounding a trail marker into the ground. Theo deduces that he and Emily were permitted to escape so they could be followed back to their home, and he and Emily prepare to defend themselves. Theo and Emily eventually, with difficulty, manage to kill their attackers. At this moment, they are informed that their 400-day simulation has ended, and they hear the entrance hatch starting to open. Theo and Emily grab each other’s hands, and wait for what is to come.
Cast
- Brandon Routh[4] as Captain Theo Cooper
- Caity Lotz[4] as Dr. Emily McTier
- Ben Feldman[4] as Bug Kieslowski
- Dane Cook[4] as Cole Dvorak
- Tom Cavanagh[4] as Zell
- Grant Bowler as Walter Anderson
- Sally Pressman as Darla
- Fernanda Romero as Zia
- Frank Ashmore as Garcia
- Dominic Bogart as Sketch
Production
400 Days is the second film directed by Matt Osterman, who also wrote the screenplay.[5] The film draws inspiration from the European/ Russian experiment called Mars500, as well as The Twilight Zone, classic science fiction, and puzzle films.[6]
Osterman, in his director's statement, explained that, "it was [his] intention to create a narrative that put the viewer in the seat of the experiment itself - one where the audience was never quite sure of who to trust and unsure if it was all just an elaborate ruse. The puzzle aspect of the movie will be challenging to some, but I wanted to echo Rod Serling and trust in the idea that it's okay for the audience to not have all the answers - to be comfortable with the unknown."[7]
The film was shot over a period of 19 days in several locations throughout Southern California during summer 2014.[8]
Release
Distribution of 400 Days was handled by XLrator Media in addition to a scheduled television release on the SyFy Network. The film was released to mixed reviews, with critics often referencing its "mind-boggling post-apocalyptic plotlines"[9] and confusing ending.
The film was screened at the Mall of America on January 15, 2016 as a part of the Twin Cities Film Fest insider series.
References
- 1 2 Kay, Jeremy (2014-08-28). "Content brings 400 Days to Toronto". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- 1 2 3 Yamato, Jen (2014-08-28). "XLrator Media, New Artists Alliance Ink 3-Picture Sci-Fi Pact". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ↑ "400 Days". Movie Insider. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Fleming, Mike (2014-06-09). "Dane Cook & Brandon Routh Headline 400 Days". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ↑ "400 Days Official". 400daysthemovie.com. SyFy Films. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ↑ Yanes, Nicholas. "INTERVIEW: MATT OSTERMAN DISCUSSES MAKING “400 DAYS”, WORKING SYFY FILMS, AND FILMMAKING IN THE MIDWEST". scifipulse.net.
- ↑ Osterman, Matt. ""400 Days" Director's Statement". 400days.tumblr.com. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ↑ "Spotlight on indie sci-fi 400 DAYS – Q & A with writer/director Matt Osterman". flixchatter.net. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ↑ Zutter, Natalie. "400 Days Review". Den Of Geek. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
External links
- 400 Days at the Internet Movie Database