Tada! Yet another Netflix movie you didn’t know existed until just a few short weeks before it premieres! While about post-cataclysmic Earth, and high concept, “IO” is a character-driven science fiction film and tells the story of one girl’s coming of age while examining the dangers of humanity’s current relationship with the planet. It also sounds environmentally timely and perhaps the dark side of climate change. The film stars Margaret Qualley (“The Nice Guys,” HBO’s “The Leftovers”), Anthony Mackie (“Captain America: Civil War,” “The Hurt Locker“) and Danny Huston (“Wonder Woman,” FX’s “American Horror Story”).
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Directed by French helmer Jonathan Helpert (2015’s “House of Time”), “IO”, the project, which was developed at the Sundance Institute’s Writers Lab and the Sundance Institute Catalyst Forum, from an original script by Clay Jeter (“Jess + Moss,” “Chef’s Table“), Charles Spano (“Embers“) and Will Basanta (“Jess + Moss“).
Here’s the official synopsis:
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Sam (Margaret Qualley), one of the last survivors on a post-cataclysmic Earth, is a young scientist dedicated to finding a way for humans to adapt and survive, rather than abandon their world. But with the final shuttle scheduled to leave the planet for a distant colony, her determination to stay is rocked by the arrival of another survivor, Micah (Anthony Mackie). She must decide whether to journey with him to join the rest of humanity and begin life anew, or stay to fight for Earth’s survival.
“IO” hints at Qualley racing to find a cure for her poisoned homeworld before the last shuttle off the planet to the distant human space colony leaves her stranded. Mackie is a complicated and mysterious refugee on his way to the imminent shuttle launch who makes Sam question whether she can really alter Earth’s fate.
While it may not sound exactly new, Qualley and Mackie are aces and a character-driven story between the two of them could potentially show some excellent emotional dividends. Qualley is also excellent in the upcoming indie “Donnybrook“ alongside Jamie Bell and Frank Grillo.
“IO” premieres on Netflix on January 18.
