Greenland Review – Fast Action, Solid Story Propel This Apocalyptic Thriller

Details

Category: Film

Published on Tuesday, 22 December 2020 12:36

Written by Janet Walker

Greenland, from STX Entertainment, brings to the screen a fast action contemporary disaster thriller, as an uncontrollable planet-killing comet hurtles towards impact, a family battles the breakdown in society, in a race against the clock to find shelter.

The film opens with John Garrity, played by Gerard Butler, construction engineer, reviewing the building plans and deciding whether to leave work early or not. The drive to his home is filled with news of an expected impact over the ocean of what is called the Clark Comet.

Promising Young Woman Review – Strong Performances Drive this Dark Revenge Dramady

We understand, as he hesitates using his key or ringing the door bell, that there has been trouble at home. This is also emphasized when we meet Allison, his wife, played by Morena Baccarin, and the two have these awkward moments.

Nathan, played by Roger Dale Floyd, is celebrating his birthday, and they are attempting to make the best of this bad situation. The next morning the news is filled with updated reports of Clark and the expected impact. A brief trip to the grocery store, John receives a Presidential Alert on his phone informing him he and his family had been pre-selected for shelter.

Arriving at the house, the neighbors are all present, and the sly glances from the women toward Allison, tells us the neighbors have chosen sides, and we can assume he had an affair. At this point the first impact is minutes away and like watching a lift off at Cape Canaveral the group is joining in on the countdown of impact.

Army of One Review – Solid Action Revenge Thriller

The adults are taking the impact with more seriousness than the kids, and suddenly a piece of the comet impacts, and the news footage is shown, with the entire city of Tampa, Florida obliterated. John steps outside the house and sees the shockwaves which knock him down.

Immediately, an updated Presidential Alert is sent through the phone and interrupts the picture on the television. He is the only person in the group that receives the selection for shelter notice. Access is limited by QR code and immediately he is sent the code.

Chaos ensues immediately as instant survival mode fear kicks in, and as we see, tough decisions begin immediately. As the clock ticks down, the three arrive at the military base, and the mass scale evacuation appears to be running smoothly.

Another Round Review – Affecting and Poignant, A Bittersweet Dramady

When they are ordered to consolidate their allotted one suitcase each into one suitcase, they discover Nathan’s insulin is missing and must have dropped out in the car. After securing the med’s, John returns to the military hanger to find his wife and son.

As the two are still experiencing tension, communication is somewhat fractured between them, and neither leave the other clear messages on where to meet when he returns with the meds. Allison attempts to speak with a solider to explain her son’s condition, not realizing chronic illnesses are flagged, and is told diabetes rejects him as a relocation candidate.

The breakdown in society becomes uncontrollable amid the terrifying news accounts of cities around the world being leveled by the comet’s fragments, the three are now separated, and on a desperate search to reunite and find shelter before the clock runs out.

The Columnist Review – Dominating Performances Carry this Revenge Horror Flick

Greenland is an adrenaline rush. Fast moving, an uncontrollable and impending apocalypse drives this highspeed action thriller. Filled with the expected dissolution of society, Darwinian battles, and tough choices as a determination to survive and reunite propels the characters forward.

GerardButler leads an ensemble cast that each bring solid layers to their characters lending to the credibility and authenticity. One would expect the fight for survival, the acceptance of impending death, or desperation in any catastrophic natural disaster.

Greenland, a race against the ultimate destruction thriller, is available on all streaming platform. See it.

Year: 2020

Running Time: 119 minutes.

Director: Ric Roman Waugh.

Screenwriter: Chris Sparling

Producer: Basil Iwanyk, Sèbastian Raybaud, Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel.

Cast: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, David Denman, Hope Davis, Roger Dale Floyd, Andrew Bachelor, Merrin Dungey, with Holt McCallany, and Scott Glenn.