Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Smart sci-fi thriller can be intense, terrifying.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Europa Report
What's the Story?
Six astronauts (Michael Nyqvist, Sharlto Copley, Christian Camargo, Anamaria Marinca, Daniel Wu, and Karolina Wydra) embark on a lengthy and potentially dangerous mission to Jupiter's fourth-largest moon, Europa. Their goal is to dig under the ice on the surface and search for life forms. On earth, Dr. Samantha Unger (Embeth Davidtz) tries to monitor the mission but must deal with faulty communications. Accidents start happening, and before long these things begin to look like more than accidents. Strange lights appear, and the astronauts' options decrease. Before long, the mystery of life on other planets clashes with the reality of whether or not they can get out of there alive.
Is It Any Good?
Presented in a "found footage" style, EUROPA REPORT embodies the best of that genre. Like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, it gets by on sound, suggestion, mood, and the power of the unseen, rather than shock or gore. It uses its time to build a generous rapport between the astronauts. They gently tease one another, but there's very little vulgarity or sexual innuendo to turn things sour. When things start to happen, each tragedy is deeply felt.
Additionally, director Sebastian Cordero -- who also made the very good Cronicas -- apparently used actual NASA footage of things like solar flares for a very realistic touch. Indeed, it's difficult to tell the effects shots from the real thing. The sense of isolation and high-stakes survival is clearly palpable. Only a few niggling little details keep it from being a great film, but it's surely a good one -- and better still, it's a smart one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Europa Report's scariness and violence. What's shown, and what isn't shown? Which has the most impact, and why?
How effective is the teamwork between the characters? What could they have done to improve it?
Teens: Does this movie make being an astronaut look appealing? What's a real-life astronaut's job like?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 2, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : October 8, 2013
- Cast : Embeth Davidtz , Michael Nyqvist , Sharlto Copley
- Director : Sebastian Cordero
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Magnet Releasing , Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sci-fi action and peril
- Last updated : February 7, 2020
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