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TV Review: ‘Foundation’ Season 3
Jared Harris in ‘Foundation,’ premiering July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+.

‘Foundation’ Season 3 receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

Released on Apple TV+ on July 11th with its initial episode, ‘Foundation’ returns us to the multi-storyline tale of an Empire’s fall and a dedicated –– some might say obsessed –– scientist’s drive to steer the future.

With David S. Goyer (‘The Dark Knight’) as its showrunner, the series stars Jared Harris (‘Chernobyl’), Lee Pace (‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’), Lou Llobell (‘Voyagers’), Pilou Asbæk (‘Ghost in the Shell’) and Terrence Mann (‘Critters’).

Related Article: TV Review: ‘Foundation’ Season 2

Initial Thoughts

Lee Pace in ‘Foundation,’ premiering July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+.

We are long past the point where Isaac Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ stories are considered “unfilmable” –– the team behind this Apple series have been putting the lie to that since 2021.

Yet, the source material’s endlessly layered and complex themes have not always proven so easy to transition to screens, and the third season of the show continues that. There are storylines and characters who pop (the returning ones), while others struggle to make themselves stand out.

And some serious production issues (strikes, budgetary squabbles) have led to delays on this one –– but fortunately the quality is unaffected.

Script and Direction

Lou Llobell in ‘Foundation,’ premiering July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+.

While Goyer had been serving as both head writer and initial director for the first three episodes, he was swapped out –– on the directing front, at least, by Tim Southam, who has worked on the likes of ‘One Piece’ and ‘Lost in Space’. Partly that was to allow Goyer to focus on the writing side, and partly to curb budgetary overruns.

And it’s not hard to see why –– ‘Foundation’ remains a visually dazzling, clearly expensive series that manages to balance intimate, intense character moments with sweeping star-scapes and big location shoots.

But none of that is worth it if the scripts don’t work, and while the series sometimes loses itself in esoterica, it still delivers on the ‘Game of Thrones’-esque machinations of competing political, scientific, and particularly this season, criminal dynamics looking to dominate the galaxy.

There’s real scope and scale here, but the writers also don’t forget to narrow down to a more human level (even if the character is, say, a humanoid robot who can tear her own face open with a fingertip and seal it back up again like someone else shutting a Ziploc.

On the directing side, Southam and the other directors keeps up the style of the show, all grand architecture and vibrant costumes, and the effects remain impressive.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Cassian Bilton, Lee Pace and Terrence Mann in ‘Foundation,’ premiering July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+.

As I mentioned above, the veteran cast are, for the most part, the characters who pop. Jared Harris continues to own every scene he’s in as “psychohistory” expert Hari Seldon, the deep thinker with a planet-sized ego whose math-based theories have predicted the end of empires and how civilizations can speed up the chaotic periods in between interstellar calm.

Harris is measured and fantastically smug in equal measure and despite his character’s seeming death last season, he’s not letting that stop him make pronouncements.

If there’s anyone who can match Harris for sheer presence it’s Lee Pace as Brother Day, one of the three clones who rules the Empire in endless succession, a new one decanted when one dies, and always three hanging around arguing (Pace’s scenes with co-stars Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk, the older variant and Brother Dawn, played by Cassian Bilton, are always good).

Pace, never knowingly fully clothed, is handed yet more solid material to play here, and while it’s less showy than other season, it deepens his character as his flaws really start to play on him. Plus a mano-a-mano duel late in the season we won’t spoil here is excellent.

Pilou Asbæk in ‘Foundation,’ premiering July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Rounding out the standout veteran characters is The Mule, with ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Pilou Asbæk taking over the role for this third season. A psychic warlord who can influence the brain of almost anyone he meets, he’s like a violent, vulgar crossbreed of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, a man who believes he’s destined to rule worlds and isn’t above slaughtering people to achieve his aims.

Asbæk gives him just the right amount of sneer mixed with charisma, and The Mule is a highlight of the new season.

No less impactful but much humbler is Lou Lobell’s Gaal Dornick, one of Hari’s main followers who has long since evolved into her own person with her own mission. Lobell makes her believable and empathetic.

And Laura Birn, who plays synthetic lifeform Demerzel, an aide to Pace and co’s emperors who is much more –– and much more powerful/influential than anyone suspects continues to impress.

Of the new characters this year, there is good work from Alexander Siddig (back on the science fiction beat after his first big role in ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ decades ago). While Siddig had a small role in Season 1 of the show, he’s back playing Dr. Ebling Mis here.

Finally, there are three other newcomers who pop –– Synnøve Karlsen and Cody Fern as Bayta and Toran Mallow, a spoiled rich couple on their honeymoon who get swept up into the Mule’s storyline and Tómas Lemarquis as a hypnotic musician who works with the criminal character.

Final Thoughts

Alexander Siddig in ‘Foundation,’ premiering July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+.

‘Foundation’ might seem impenetrable to some. But if you give it a chance to wrap its tendrils around your brain, you’ll appreciate the magic trick it is pulling off bringing one of the most complicated and thoughtful novel series to life.
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What’s the plot of ‘Foundation’?

Set 152 years after the events of the second season, The Foundation has become increasingly established far beyond its humble beginnings while the Cleonic Dynasty’s Empire has dwindled.

As these galactic powers forge an uneasy alliance, a threat to the entire galaxy appears in the fearsome form of a war lord known as The Mule whose sights are set on ruling the universe by use of physical and military force, as well as mind control. It’s anyone’s guess who will win, who will lose, who will live and who will die.

Who stars in ‘Foundation’?
- Jared Harris as Hari Seldon
- Lee Pace as Brother Day
- Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
- Laura Birn as Demerzel
- Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn
- Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk
- Pilou Asbæk as The Mule
- Cody Fern as Toran Mallow
- Synnove Karlsen as Bayta Mallow
- Alexander Siddig as Dr. Ebling Mis
Laura Birn in ‘Foundation,’ premiering July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+.

List of David S. Goyer Movies:
- ‘The Crow: City of Angels‘ (1996)
- ‘Blade‘ (1998)
- ‘Blade II‘ (2002)
- ‘Blade: Trinity‘ (2004)
- ‘Batman Begins‘ (2005)
- ‘Ghost Rider‘ (2007)
- ‘Jumper‘ (2008)
- ‘The Dark Knight‘ (2008)
- ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance‘ (2011)
- ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘ (2012)
- ‘Man of Steel‘ (2013)
- ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘ (2016)
- ‘Terminator: Dark Fate‘ (2019)
- ‘The Tomorrow War‘ (2021)
- ‘Hellraiser‘ (2022)
- ‘The First Omen’ (2024)
Buy David S. Goyer Movies On Amazon
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July 9, 2025
Movie Review: ‘Salem’s Lot’
(L to R) Alfre Woodard, John Benjamin Hickey, Makenzie Leigh, Lewis Pullman, and Jordan Preston Carter in ‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Landing on Max on October 3rd, ‘Salem’s Lot’ is hoping to entice the Halloween movie crowd with its old-school Stephen King chills.

Yet the movie, which has been sitting completed on a shelf at Warner Bros.’ New Line arm, struggles with its less-than-entirely fresh treatment of the genre and some predictable characters.

Related Article: J.J. Abrams Will Produce and may Direct Stephen King Film Billy Summers

Does ‘Salem’s Lot’ get its teeth into you?

John Benjamin Hickey in ‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

It says something when a film by a writer who has been partly responsible for some of the biggest recent horror hits can’t secure a solid theatrical release. Admittedly, we live in an age where studios and other companies are seemingly quick to banish anything to their streaming services in hopes of propping up their flagging subscriber counts.

Yet the move also does cause you to worry about the quality of the movie itself –– even with Gary Dauberman, who worked on ‘It’, that film’s sequel and several of the ‘Conjuring’ universe entries (including directing ‘Annabelle Comes Home’) –– at the helm, the result is something caught between two stools.

Script and Direction

‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Dauberman certainly has the credits and drawing from one of Stephen King’s other classic novels might be cause to think this one is a slam dunk. And yet… ‘Salem’s Lot’ has some big issues in both tone and plotting.

While the movie certainly boasts an impressively retro style (it evokes the 1970s setting very well, with song choices, art direction and cinematography all doing their job on that front), the throwback nature of the plotting is a problem. This is a movie that feels, even though it runs close to two hours, like chunks have been chopped out of it, characters knowing information you’re not sure how they gleaned, and plot developments skipping ahead with key connective tissue missing.

Filmmakers place value in “show, don’t tell,” but here the occasionally extra moment of “tell” would not have gone amiss. Vampire lore is apparently something everyone is well versed in, but there’s little reason to suspect why.

The style also extends to the effects work, and while some imagery, such as crosses that seem to glow with angelic light when they come into contact with vampires is cool, it’s also distracting in places. Dauberman seemingly has a handle on what makes King’s stories creepy to begin with but falls down when it comes to more climactic moments.

Performances

With Lewis Pullman scoring a well-earned starring role, the film also features some good work from respected character performers, though one or two from the cast let the side down.

Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears

Lewis Pullman in ‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Pullman has been a supporting actor for years, waiting in the wings for lead roles. Mears offers him one (though the movie was shot in 2021, so he’s been waiting longer than planned), the King stand-in who anchors the movie.

Mears is a troubled yet likeable type, with an easy charm that Pullman can handle with grace and attitude, the everyman archetype coming naturally to him. And the role puts the actor through the wringer, having to deal with the growing supernatural threat. A large part of what works about ‘Salem’s Lot’ hangs firmly on his shoulders.

Makenzie Leigh as Susan Norton

Makenzie Leigh in ‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Leigh manages to infuse what could be a relatively standard love interest with some spirit. A wannabe realtor stuck working as the secretary for a scummy local agent, she quickly bonds with Ben. And when they are drawn into the mystery of what’s happening around time, Leigh makes her paranoia and fear believable.

Bill Camp as Matthew Burke

(L to R) Jordan Preston Carter and Bill Camp in ‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Camp is an actor I appreciate in pretty much everything –– he brings a grumpy gravitas wherever he goes. Here, as local teacher Matt Burke, he’s allowed to more than just sit at desks and deliver speeches; and he grasps the opportunity with both hands.

Alfre Woodard as Dr. Cody

Alfre Woodard in ‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Woodard, just as accomplished as Camp, doesn’t get as fair a shake, though her doctor certainly has a few moments that stand out, her foul-mouthed reactions to vampires rising from the dead as entertaining as her calm medical demeanor.

Pilou Asbæk as Richard Straker

Pilou Asbaek in ‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Asbæk gives good villain, though here he’s mostly the manservant to the actual threat newly moved to town. Still, for what he gets to do, he’s certainly watchable, even if he’s introduced in slightly clumsy, ‘Dracula’-referencing fashion (as much King’s issue as it is Dauberman’s.)

Supporting cast

A few other performances pop –– Spencer Treat Clark is good as local handyman/grave digger Mike Ryerson, who becomes one of the early victims of the vampiric plague that begins to sweep the town. John Benjamin Hickey does well as Father Callahan, the local priest who also happens to be the town drunk. And Alexander Ward, though his role is limited to playing the main vamp, Kurt Barlow, is solid as the creature causing the chaos.

If there are weaker links among the cast, it’s in some of the other supporting players, who rarely break out of the stereotypical roles they’re handed. Though credit to Jordan Preston Carter as Mark Petrie, who gives the most memorable performance from the town’s kids.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Alfre Woodard, John Benjamin Hickey, Makenzie Leigh, Lewis Pullman, and Jordan Preston Carter in ‘Salem’s Lot’. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Dauberman certainly deserved better than to have his movie sit in limbo and then get shunted straight to Max. ‘Salem’s Lot’ is far from perfect, but it’s an entirely watchable adaptation of King’s novel, and might well have rustled up some business were in released in cinemas.

‘Salem’s Lot’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the plot of ‘Salem’s Lot’?

Author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot, still haunted by a family tragedy.

He’s hit town in search of inspiration for his next book only to discover the place where he grew up is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire.

Who is in the cast of ‘Salem’s Lot’?
- Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears
- Makenzie Leigh as Susan Norton
- Alfre Woodard as Dr. Cody
- William Sadler as Parkins Gillespie
- Bill Camp as Matthew Burke
- Pilou Asbæk as Richard Straker
- John Benjamin Hickey as Father Callahan
- Jordan Preston Carter as Mark Petrie
- Spencer Treat Clark as Mike Ryerson
- Nicholas Crovetti as Danny Glick
- Cade Woodward as Ralph Glick
- Alexander Ward as Kurt Barlow
‘Salem’s Lot’ premieres October 3rd on Max. Photo: Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max.

Other Steven King Movies:
- Carrie‘ (1976)
- ‘The Shining‘ (1980)
- ‘Stand by Me‘ (1986)
- ‘Pet Sematary‘ (1989)
- ‘Misery‘ (1990)
- ‘Pet Sematary II‘ (1992)
- ‘Carrie‘ (2013)
- ‘It‘ (2017)
- ‘The Dark Tower‘ (2017)
- ‘It Chapter Two‘ (2019)
- ‘Doctor Sleep‘ (2019)
- ‘Pet Sematary‘ (2019)
- ‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone‘ (2022)
- ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines‘ (2023)
Buy Stephen King Movies On Amazon
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September 26, 2024
‘Twilight of the Gods’ Interview: Zack Snyder and Wesley Coller
(L to R) Kristofer Hivju as Andvari, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen as Hervor, Peter Stormare as Ulfr, Jamie Clayton as Seid-Kona, Sylvia Hoeks as Sigrid and Thea Sofie Loch Naess as Thyra in ‘Twilight of the Gods’. Photo: Netflix © 2024.

Premiering on Netflix September 19th is the new animated series from visionary director Zack Snyder (‘Watchmen’ and ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’) entitled ‘Twilight of the Gods’.

The series is based on Norse mythology and features Sylvia Hoeks (‘Blade Runner 2049’), Stuart Martin (‘Army of Thieves’), Pilou Asbeck (‘Game of Thrones’), John Nobel (‘Fringe’), Peter Stormare (‘Constantine’), Jamie Chung (‘Sucker Punch’), Lauren Cohan (‘The Walking Dead’), Corey Stroll (‘Ant-Man’) and Jessica Henwick (‘The Gray Man’) amongst the voice cast.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with co-creator and executive producer Zack Snyder, as well as executive producer Wesley Coller about their work on ‘Twilight of the Gods’, Snyder’s interest in Norse mythology, reinventing it for a new audience, the freedom of animation, bringing Snyder’s unique filmmaking style to the series, the voice cast, and Hans Zimmer’s score.

Related Article: Director Zack Snyder Talks ‘Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver’

Director Zack Snyder at Next on Netflix Animation Preview. Photo: Netflix.

Moviefone: Zack, can you talk about your interest in Norse Mythology and breaking the story for the series?

Zack Snyder: I’ve long had an interest in Norse mythology. I think it’s easy to be seduced and captivated by the adventures of these gods. Viking gods are interesting to anybody, obviously. When we talked about the show, we had this character of Sigrid and that she was this Warrior Shield maiden. We really wanted to focus on this love affair between she and Leif because I really love the idea of the tenderness and deep connection that these two have with each other, and that through it all, through the landscape of these gods on their whims that can destroy us, but their love the thing that holds the whole universe together for them. We really loved that idea. The great thing about doing a series is that you have time to develop those relationships and really dig into the whys and wherefores of these characters. So yeah, it was super fun and super satisfying to realize.

MF: Wesley, can you talk about the challenges of adapting Zack’s specific visual style to this animated series?

Wesley Coller: It was a great experience. We’ve done animation before, so it wasn’t wholly new to us, but doing 2D in a series space is a whole different ask. For me, what I loved about it is I could make no assumptions, which as a producer are my favorite junctures, where nothing’s on autopilot. I must really be open to learning and being a part of a process that is new in this 2D series space. I think in terms of having that work with Zack’s style, it was a natural fit. I think the fact that here’s this beautiful 2D landscape, the designs that Zack and everybody came up with is amazing. I think it’s an amazing foundation to tell this mythical epic story where there’s man and gods and giants and dragons. I think that it created a place for the story to be told at the scale, at the pace, all the things that directorially, Zack the team wanted to do. For me, I think that it was a really just organic fit and process, and watching that take place and being a part of that was really an honor and I’m so thrilled with how it turned out.

(L to R) Sylvia Hoeks as Sigrid and Birgitte Hjort Sørensen as Hervor in ‘Twilight of the Gods’. Photo: Netflix © 2024.

MF: Zack, you make big movies based on big ideas, is there a certain freedom that comes with animation because you can execute anything that you can imagine?

ZS: There is. I think that it’s fun to do a scene with something outrageous in it and not have to worry about how we’re going to do it, because that’s a big part of being a filmmaker, is the sort of puzzling out of the production methodology that would be the most effective for rendering these crazy images. I think for me, I draw, so when you draw something crazy and you’re like, “Well, how are we going to film that?” It’s a big deal. Everyone’s like, “Oh, you can’t do that.” We do hear that a lot in live action. But here they’re like, “Yeah, we’ll just make that. Why not?” So, it’s quite liberating in some ways.

MF: Wesley, can you talk about assembling the voice cast?

WC: I think just like anytime you’re casting, you go into that process looking for the person, the voice, that presence that’s going to really embody that character. We were talking about at one point that because it’s animation, the ask of time is less. So even our busiest friends and people we’ve worked with before, it was not a huge ask to be able to carve out a little bit of time. Zack really got to say, “You know who’d be great for this?” And we got to just go straight for those people. I’m so thrilled with the casting and I feel like the performances they deliver are just amazing. You put those (voices) in this story, this world with this visual aesthetic and I just think it’s a captivating watch.

Twilight of the Gods (L to R) Sylvia Hoeks as Sigrid and Pilou Asbæk as Thor in ‘Twilight of the Gods’. Photo: Netflix © 2024.

MF: Zack, can you talk about having the opportunity to reintroduce characters like Thor, Loki and Odin to a new audience that may only know of them from the Marvel movies?

ZS: I think that for me it was fun to get at their real Norse mythological origins. This is sort of the non-commercial version of the Norse gods and maybe it’s a fun dive to go see how flawed and crazy they really were. I think that’s just incredible. Like our Odin is just off the charts freaky, and I love him.

MF: Finally, Wesley, can you talk about Hans Zimmer’s score and what it adds to the series?

WC: Fortunately, we have a relationship with him and when we started talking about what to do for score, reaching out to Hans was something that we just immediately thought that would be amazing. We reached out and he put together the team and they just collectively came back to us with the most amazing score. It was funny because they came to us with the first pass, which was great, but there were some unique, edgy ideas that they had peppered in. We heard it and the note was just more of that. “Just go for it. There should be no restraints on this and have fun with it and get weird with it.” They came back on pass two and had infused so much more of that. I’m so thrilled with that. I feel like it is really part of the DNA of the story.
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What is the plot of ‘Twilight of the Gods’?

In a mythical world of great battles, great deeds and great despair, Leif (Stuart Martin), a mortal King, is saved on the battlefield by Sigrid (Sylvia Hoeks), an iron-willed warrior with whom he falls in love. On their wedding night, Sigrid and Leif survive a wrath of terror from Thor (Pilou Asbæk), which sets them – and a crew of crusaders – on an against all odds and merciless mission for vengeance. This heroic story of love, loss and revenge, is a journey to Hell and beyond… across fantastical lands, battlefields fierce and bloody, and wars waged against Gods and demons.

Who is in the cast of ‘Twilight of the Gods’?
- Sylvia Hoeks as Sigrid
- Stuart Martin as Leif
- Pilou Asbæk as Thor
- John Noble as Odin
- Paterson Joseph as Loki
- Rahul Kohli as Egill
- Jamie Clayton as The Seid-Kona
- Kristofer Hivju as Andvari
- Peter Stormare as Ulfr
- Jamie Chung as Hel
- Lauren Cohan as Inge
- Corey Stoll as Hrafnkel
- Jessica Henwick as Sandraudiga
(L to R) Sylvia Hoeks as Sigrid and Paterson Joseph as Loki in ‘Twilight of the Gods’. Photo: Netflix © 2024.

Movies Directed By Zack Snyder:
- ‘Dawn of the Dead‘ (2004)
- ‘300‘ (2006)
- ‘Watchmen‘ (2009)
- ‘Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole‘ (2010)
- ‘Sucker Punch‘ (2011)
- ‘Man of Steel‘ (2013)
- ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘ (2016)
- ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League‘ (2021)
- ‘Army of the Dead‘ (2021)
- ‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire‘ (2023)
- ‘Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver‘ (2024)
Buy Zack Snyder Movies on Amazon
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September 20, 2024
Movie Review: ‘I.S.S.’
Ariana DeBose in Bleecker Street’s ‘I.S.S.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.

Opening in theaters on January 19th, ‘I.S.S.’ might be set in the near future, but it seeks to channel some very real and current fears of division in politics and the world in general. Not to mention the spreading notion of conflict around the world.

The concept is certainly a compelling, but the film itself takes a wrong turn at one point and boils away the tension it has created like an astronaut exposed to space.

Does ‘I.S.S.’ Have Gravity?

A Still from Bleecker Street’s ‘I.S.S.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.

The idea for ‘I.S.S.’ is one that movie fans might find familiar, since the notion of American and Russian crews at odds in space is one that forms part of the story for 1984’s ‘2010: The Year We Make Contact’.

That movie, of course was also burdened with being the sequel to one of the most highly regarded movies of all time (‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, in case you somehow didn’t figure it out). ‘I.S.S.’ doesn’t have to service an existing story and we feel justified in saying that there are no mysterious monoliths of alien origin or giant space children in this one.

Yet for all its down-to-Earth (well, sort of) plotting, it fumbles midway through, giving a talented cast little to hold onto.

‘I.S.S.’: Script and Direction

A Still from Bleecker Street’s ‘I.S.S.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.

Written by Nick Shafir, the script appeared on the Blacklist of best unproduced screenplays before it was plucked from that pile and became this movie. It’s initially a pot-boiler of a thriller, putting a group of Russian and American astronauts aboard the International Space Station and putting them at odds when the situation down on Earth spirals out of control.

It has a solid start, portraying the claustrophobia of docking at the famous station and the unsure feelings of the main characters who don’t know who to trust. Smartly bringing Ariana DeBose’s character Dr. Kira Foster aboard as a newbie, the opening allows for all the exposition you need to figure out who everyone is and what the situation is aboard.

But as the story’s paranoia deepens, it also goes to some overly melodramatic places, getting to a pulpy level and throwing in twist after twist that don’t really work. It’s as if it switches gears to a completely different film, and not one that is as satisfying as its beginning.

Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite, who previously made the acclaimed documentary ‘Blackfish’, bio-drama ‘Megan Leavey’ and romantic drama ‘Our Friend’ switches gear herself here, bringing a light touch to a science fiction story that could have come out of ‘Black Mirror’ or ‘The Twilight Zone’ (though, again, there is nothing otherworldly here).

It helps that the effects are impressive, leading to some beautiful visuals –– the sense of awe for the new arrivals is not hard to understand when you have superb panoramas. She has also, thanks in part to research with astronauts who have spent time on the station, crafted a welcome claustrophobic atmosphere within, the better to increase the tension. Yet while her work with the cast is initially fine, she seems to lose control of things as the drama dials up.

Related Article: ‘West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose to Play Calypso in ‘Kraven the Hunter’

‘I.S.S.’: Performances

Ariana DeBose in Bleecker Street’s ‘I.S.S.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.

You might be more used to seeing DeBose singing and dancing (she did, after all, win an Oscar for Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’), but here she plays Foster with a nervy edge that works well for someone who is adapting to a strange situation even before conflict erupts on Earth, and she has to decide who to trust.

Chris Messina, meanwhile, has the perfectly gruff, low-key attitude that befits a veteran astronaut who has to make some big decisions when things start to go wrong. He plays his scenes with aplomb and stalwart levelheadedness, but even he falls victim to some ridiculous moments that send things on the station to a degree that makes you start to roll your eyes.

The ensemble as a whole does good early work, though even they can’t quite keep a grip on things and the situation becomes untenable. There are great actors at work here, but the likes of Pilou Asbæk can’t keep things afloat as gravity begins to drag on both the narrative and the space station.

Yet even with the characters plunging into conflict, the turns outwit even the acting abilities of the group and before the end, you’re beginning to wonder how much sillier things can get.

‘I.S.S.’: Final Thoughts

Chris Messina in Bleecker Street’s ‘I.S.S.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.

‘I.S.S.’ will likely divide audiences into those who appreciate the slow-burn tension of the initial scenes and the early moments after war breaks out on Earth and those who are just waiting for the situation on the station to become a free-for-all as the astronauts take sides.

It’s just that for us, the dives into suspicion and secrecy overstretch the concept and it never retains its shape. A real shame, since the movie had plenty of promise, and while it offers some taught direction and fine performances, it ultimately lets its initial good feelings slip away into the cosmos.

‘I.S.S.’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘I.S.S.?

Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station as a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Reeling from this, the astronauts receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary.

Astronauts Dr. Kira Foster (Ariana DeBose), Gordon Barrett (Chris Messina) and Christian Campbell (John Gallagher Jr.) must now face off against the cosmonauts they previous regarded as colleagues –– and in some cases, more.

Who else is in ‘I.S.S.?

The cast for the sci-fi thriller also includes Masha Mashkova as Weronika Vetrov, Costa Ronin as Nicholai Pulov and Pilou Asbæk as Alexey Pulov.

Ariana DeBose in Bleecker Street’s ‘I.S.S.’ Credit: Bleecker Street.

Other Movies Similar to ‘I.S.S.’:
- ‘The Right Stuff‘ (1983)
- ‘Apollo 13‘ (1995)
- ‘Moon‘ (2009)
- ‘Apollo 18‘ (2011)
- ‘Gravity‘ (2013)
- ‘Interstellar‘ (2014)
- ‘The Martian‘ (2015)
- ‘Hidden Figures‘ (2016)
- ‘First Man‘ (2018)
- ‘High Life‘ (2018)
- ‘Apollo 11‘ (2019)
- ‘Ad Astra‘ (2019)
- ‘The Midnight Sky‘ (2020)
Buy Ariana DeBose Movies On Amazon
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January 19, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Samaritan’

(L to R) Javon “Wanna” Walton as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

‘Overlord’ director Julius Avery’s new original superhero movie ‘Samaritan,’ will premiere on Prime Video beginning August 26th.

The movie stars Oscar-nominee Sylvester Stallone (‘Creed’) as Joe Smith, a local garbage man that keeps to himself. One of his neighbors is a young boy named Sam (Javon Walton), who lives alone with his single mother, Tiffany (Dascha Polanco).

Sam looks up to a superhero named Samaritan, who went missing decades ago after an epic battle with his archrival, Nemesis. Sam soon comes to believe that Joe is really the Samaritan.

When a gangster named Cyrus (Pilou Asbaek) starts threatening Sam, his mother, and the entire city, Sam turns to Joe for help. But is he really the Samaritan? And if so, can he take down Cyrus before it’s too late?

(L to R) Pilou Asbæk as Cyrus and Moisés Arias as Reza in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures.© 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The result is a shockingly strong and compelling original superhero movie that is set in a relatable and realistic universe and explores the complexity of what it means to be a hero.

Since the beginning of this century, superhero movies have ruled the box office going all the way back to ‘X-Men’ and Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man,’ and certainly since the birth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe. We’ve even seen movies based on comics from smaller publishing companies, like ‘Hellboy’ or ‘Wanted.’

But creating a good original superhero movie is a much taller order. Movies like ‘Hancock’ and ‘Sky High’ have tried with different degrees of success, and even recently we’ve seen Paramount+ attempt it with ‘Secret Headquarters.’ The difficulty comes down to world-building, which is hard to do with only two hours to tell a story. That’s why having decades of stories and characters to pull from can really help.

Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Daniel McFadden / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

With ‘Samaritan,’ which is based on a screenplay by Bragi F. Schut, who did have his work published as a graphic novel after the screenplay was already sold, director Julius Avery accomplishes the near impossible by introducing us to a brand new, fully formed world with recognizable three-dimensional characters.

Superstar and legendary actor Sylvester Stallone gives one of his best, late-in-career performances as Joe/Samaritan. The actor perfectly portrays the haunted and ageing superhero who is contemplating his own life and actions. It’s a quitter performance than we are used to from the actor, and on par with his Oscar-nominated work in ‘Creed.’

It’s also worth mentioning that this is not Stallone’s first time playing a superhero on screen. Long before he appeared as Starhawk in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ or voiced King Shark in ‘The Suicide Squad’ (which was technically a supervillain), the actor played the title character in the first big screen adaptation of ‘Judge Dredd.’ A case could also be made that many of Stallone’s characters have taken on a superhero persona like ‘Rocky,’ ‘Rambo,’ or even his role in ‘Demolition Man.’

But while he is the title character and obviously the star of ‘Samaritan,’ in some ways Joe is a supporting character and Stallone’s performance never overshadows the other actors and their performances. Stallone also has great chemistry with Javon Walton, and you can really feel the deepness of their connection as both friends and surrogate father and son.

(L to R) Javon “Wanna” Walton as Sam Cleary and Dascha Polanco as Tiffany Cleary in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In his first big screen live-action film, Walton is terrific and really holds his own with Stallone. The young actor is quite compelling as Sam, and you root for him as much as you are rooting for Joe. He also has some tender scenes with Dascha Polanco, who’s character of a single mom caring for her son is again relatable to a general audience.

Actor Pilou Asbaek in some ways gives the breakout performance of the film as the villain, Cyrus. He is absolutely magnetic on screen and truly has a worthy fight scene with Stallone towards the end. But what makes his character so menacing is how convinced he is that he is really the hero of the story, and in some ways, he is. Asbaek crafts a completely believable villain, who almost convinces you he’s right, and is absolutely terrifying in his scenes with Walton.

There are a few twists and turns in the story that I certainly won’t give away, but they were surprising and really worked. Many times, with superhero movies, original or from Marvel or DC, you really can anticipate what is going to happen next. Sometimes it doesn’t matter, and the movie is still fun to watch, but I give a lot of credit to the filmmakers for taking a big swing with this project and for the most part hitting it out of the park.

That being said the film is not without its faults. The story does seem somewhat familiar, even with its surprising moments, and it’s not like we don’t know that the hero will rise in the end. The movie also drags a bit in the middle, but quickly course corrects and delivers a very exciting third act.

It’s also safe to say that the film had a small budget, at least compared to the projects Marvel Studios release, both in theaters and on TV. If that’s the case, I am very impressed with the production value as it looks like a big theatrical film, with spacious sets and strong use of visual effects.

In the end, ‘Samaritan’ may not be a perfect movie, but it is a surprisingly good one that superhero fans, and Stallone fans in general will really enjoy.

Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

‘Samaritan’ receives 4 out of 5 stars.
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August 27, 2022
Sylvester Stallone Talks New Superhero Movie ‘Samaritan’

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Premiering on Prime Video beginning August 26th is the new original superhero movie ‘Samaritan,’ from director Julius Avery (‘Overlord’).

The movie stars Javon Walton as Sam Cleary, a young boy living with his single mother (Dascha Polanco) trying to survive in a rough neighborhood. Sam looks up to a superhero named Samaritan, who went missing decades ago after an epic battle with his archrival.

When a gangster named Cyrus (Pilou Asbaek) starts threatening Sam and his mother, he turns to a neighbor named Joe Smith (Sylvester Stallone) for help, who Sam believes might be the real Samaritan.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of attending a virtual press conference, along with several other members of the press, to hear what Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone had to say about his work on ‘Samaritan.’

(L to R) Javon “Wanna” Walton as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

You can read the interview below or click on the video player above to watch interviews with Stallone, Javon Walton, Dascha Polanco, and Pilou Asbaek.

Stallone began the press conference by discussing why he wanted to make an original superhero movie. “Well, it’s very reflective of what’s going on” he said. “Quite often, people say, we’re basically good people who can take care of ourselves. Let’s be on the honor system, and quite often it backfires. Then they go, how do we get rid of all this violence and fear?”

“In the movies, it’s always this mythic character,” Stallone continued. “But in the end, I say to the people, you have to take care of yourself, that’s what it’s all about. So, it’s kind of a cautionary tale, that when you get rid of your hero, then maybe you need a hero back, because you’re just not ready to take on the responsibility. But in this particular case, he had an issue that is so personal, that he couldn’t face the facts. That’s why he disappeared.”

The actor also talked about the challenges of creating a new superhero universe. “There has been a tremendous accomplishment by certain directors and certain companies in Marvel and DC, that have really pushed the universe to the max,” Stallone said. “I mean, everything that you could possibly imagine has been created.”

“I always feel there is nothing quite as relatable as almost getting hit by a car, or walking down a dark alley,” he continued. “That’s very relatable. So, we try to make the events and the danger plausible, in a sense, and identifiable. This could happen to you. It’s something that’s very tangible. It’s not from another universe, it’s from right here in the streets.”

Stallone was also asked to talk about the relationship in the film between his character and Sam, played by Javon Walton. “I hate the fact that he’s making me face reality quite often,” Stallone joked. “I think one of the main assets people have is a fading memory. Every day my character tries to forget something new because he doesn’t want to remember. It’s bad times, it’s mistakes, it’s this and that. This kid is dragging me back into my memories, and he’s making me face who I was.”

Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Daniel McFadden / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Having appeared in franchises like ‘Rocky,’ ‘Rambo,’ and ‘The Expendables,’ Stallone is no stranger to physically training for a movie, and the actor talked about how he prepared differently for this role. “I think there is a point where you say okay, you can’t do a 29-year-old ‘Rambo’ thing because you also have to honor who you at your age,” he said. “That’s the part of it that you’re not who you were, but you’re still there.”

“Actually, there’s a line in the movie about how you start to fall apart when you stop caring about everything, meaning life, and yourself.” Stallone explained. “So, I thought that this guy, his trait would be in his resolve. He still has great physical power as opposed to speed and he’s not jumping through the air. He’s not that kind of guy.”

“He’s like a very powerful individual that is still in the world of reality, a little bit,” the actor continued. “He can’t fly, and fire doesn’t come out of his mouth. He’s just a unique superhero. He’s almost a modern-day Hercules. He’s that kind of a mythic hero. I think those are ones that you can identify with. He can die. I mean, if he gets hit enough, he’s gone.”

Finally, Stallone was asked what superhero fans can expect from ‘Samaritan.’ “Because this guy is much more pedestrian, you could be standing next to him on a bus and not even know you’re standing next to some guy that can literally lift the bus up,’ he said. “There’s a kind of simplicity to it, and it’s a simmering boil. It eventually erupts as opposed to triumphant music, special effects and guys hitting the ground with their fists like a seismic wave.”

“So, you can expect a hero that is very regular, and does irregular things,” Stallone continued. “That’s what it is. It’s not like if ‘Rocky’ was a superhero. It’s something that is identifiable and street-like. It’s not set in some super fantastic universe. It’s set among brick and concrete, and identifiable situations about the neighborhoods we live in. That’s what I liked about it.”

(L to R) Pilou Asbæk as Cyrus and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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August 22, 2022
Sylvester Stallone Stars in the ‘Samaritan’ Trailer

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With so many superhero and comic book adaptations around on big screens and small, it can be hard to find a new angle. As Marvel in particular dominates movie theaters and Disney+, tackling different genres within its wider cinematic universe, other films need a hook on which to hang their stories.

‘Samaritan’ opts for a tried-and-tested tale of someone who has left their old life and career behind in the wake of tragedy and gives it a superheroic spin. It doesn’t hurt that it also has action star veteran Sylvester Stallone in the lead.

The new trailer for the movie introduces the basic story: Thirteen-year-old Sam Cleary (Javon Walton) suspects that his mysterious and reclusive neighbor Joe Smith (Stallone) is actually a legend hiding in plain sight.

Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Daniel McFadden / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Twenty-five years ago, Granite City’s super-powered vigilante, Samaritan, was reported dead after a fiery warehouse battle with his rival, Nemesis. Most believe Samaritan perished in the fire, but some in the city, like Sam, have hope that he is still alive. With crime on the rise and the city on the brink of chaos, Sam makes it his mission to coax his neighbor out of hiding to save the city from ruin.

Joe tries to deny it, but when Sam witnesses him surviving a seemingly fatal hit-and-run incident, Joe can’t run away from his past forever.

‘Overlord’s Julius Avery is in the director’s chair for this one, working from a script by ‘Escape Room’ writer Bragi F. Schut.

(L to R) Pilou Asbæk as Cyrus and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Schut wrote ‘Samaritan’ as an original script more than a decade ago, but after finding no luck selling it, he adapted the story into a series of graphic novels published by Mythos Comics in 2014. It has now come full circle, partly thanks to Stallone, who produces via his Balboa company.

Cast-wise, the ensemble also includes ‘Game of Thrones’ Pilou Asbæk continuing his villainous streak as Cyrus, alongside Dascha Polanco, Martin Starr and Moises Arias.

“We didn’t really have superheroes,” director Avery told Total Film in an interview back in January. “We only had action heroes. And Sly was the closest thing we had to a superhero. So to put him in a superhero movie? That feels fresh and cool and something that people will get a kick out of.”

(L to R) Javon “Wanna” Walton as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

And from the sounds of it, Stallone was still able to kick plenty of butt. “This is a big event movie – we see our heroes kicking ass,” Avery confirms in the same interview. “We’re going to see Sly do things he hasn’t done in a long time, and in a really inventive way. He’s 73 years old! I’m amazed by how much he actually does. I’m telling you, most guys in their twenties wouldn’t be able to do what Sly does in this movie.”

‘Samaritan’ will debut on Prime Video on August 26th.

Sylvester Stallone as Joe Smith in ‘Samaritan,’ directed by Julius Avery, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo: Daniel McFadden / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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July 27, 2022