The concept is one that we've seen turned into movies before, and fits into a larger subgenre of adventure-thrillers about survival in difficult circumstances. Of course that doesn't mean that this iteration can't be worthwhile, only that audiences know roughly what to expect. Beyond that, filmmaker MJ Bassett has proven her capabilities previously; however one may judge the quality of the content, she has demonstrated fine fundamental skills in building a feature. With all that said, I did have mixed expectations about 'Endangered species' in the first place, following on the heels of Bassett's so-so, adequate prior film 'Rogue,' but I'm willing to give just about anything a try. I regret to say, however, that it didn't take long for this to begin making a particular impression. It's not abjectly bad - but it's just not special in any way, either.
Stop me if this sounds familiar: Brazenly ignorant, arrogant travelers. (Surprise - they're white! And American!) Heavily splintered family dynamics. A character with a health condition that heightens the risks. A stoner, a rebel, an athlete, a bull-headed father. A series of small decisions, and a precise series of events, that significantly tilts the odds in an unfavorable direction with a neatness that comes across as contrived Movie Magic. If not as substantially as other survival flicks I could name (if you haven't seen 2020's 'Horizon Line' - don't), 'Endangered species' works hard to add drama in any way that it can, to the point that it severely jeopardizes suspension of disbelief. And it includes so many tropes and conventions of the genre that it's hard not to feel like the movie is simply treading recycled water the whole time.
I can't say that it isn't enjoyable; the problems emphatically detract from the movie, but aren't so deep as to absolutely rob the title of all value. There are strong ideas here broadly, and in the face of dire peril, the shifting dialogue between the primary characters, dancing around the existing fissures, holds potential. In the latter instance one could almost imagine the scenario being ripe for a stage play where the interpersonal conflict unfolds in an inappropriate setting. On the other hand, in addition to those faulty elements I've already mentioned: The CGI used to realize animals in connection with the characters, or in moments of action, isn't altogether awful, but is also very unmistakably CGI, and the behavior of the animals is also in question. The introduction of another very predictable aspect of the plot in the last act stirs in a) intended emotional weight that is dampened from the outset owing to all the previous artificially inflated drama, and b) themes that are well worth exploring on their own merits, but which feel like they've been forcibly shoehorned into this picture. And with that, one more matter - whatever the medium, whenever a discrete message takes priority in a work of art (song, film) over the essential content, the content almost always suffers. There is one pointedly accentuated notion coursing through the film, but for most of the length it mostly feels like flavor; it isn't meaningfully spotlighted until a block of text concluding the picture, at which point it seems extraneous and ill-considered, like an afterthought.
I don't dislike 'Endangered species,' but I also find myself unable to speak more highly of it than I do. Once again, it's well-made from a technical standpoint - but the writing is both heavy-handed and club-footed. The drama is excessive, and strained if not phony, while too many facets are so common as to be passe. There are good ideas here, but either there are too many, or they are applied to a film for which they are ill-suited. I don't think Bassett or her daughter, co-writer and cast member Isabel, are bad writers, but I feel like they need to work towards creating a movie where the narrative speaks for itself, without any need for twists, hooks, or embellishments. If a more simple, plainspoken, unadorned approach were taken here, the title would have greatly benefited. You could do a lot worse than 'Endangered species,' if you come across it, but unless you're a diehard fan of someone that's involved, you don't really need to fret about it, either.
Most recommendable for those open to all the wide variety that cinema has to offer, and for a lazy day when you want something to watch but can't make a decision.
Stop me if this sounds familiar: Brazenly ignorant, arrogant travelers. (Surprise - they're white! And American!) Heavily splintered family dynamics. A character with a health condition that heightens the risks. A stoner, a rebel, an athlete, a bull-headed father. A series of small decisions, and a precise series of events, that significantly tilts the odds in an unfavorable direction with a neatness that comes across as contrived Movie Magic. If not as substantially as other survival flicks I could name (if you haven't seen 2020's 'Horizon Line' - don't), 'Endangered species' works hard to add drama in any way that it can, to the point that it severely jeopardizes suspension of disbelief. And it includes so many tropes and conventions of the genre that it's hard not to feel like the movie is simply treading recycled water the whole time.
I can't say that it isn't enjoyable; the problems emphatically detract from the movie, but aren't so deep as to absolutely rob the title of all value. There are strong ideas here broadly, and in the face of dire peril, the shifting dialogue between the primary characters, dancing around the existing fissures, holds potential. In the latter instance one could almost imagine the scenario being ripe for a stage play where the interpersonal conflict unfolds in an inappropriate setting. On the other hand, in addition to those faulty elements I've already mentioned: The CGI used to realize animals in connection with the characters, or in moments of action, isn't altogether awful, but is also very unmistakably CGI, and the behavior of the animals is also in question. The introduction of another very predictable aspect of the plot in the last act stirs in a) intended emotional weight that is dampened from the outset owing to all the previous artificially inflated drama, and b) themes that are well worth exploring on their own merits, but which feel like they've been forcibly shoehorned into this picture. And with that, one more matter - whatever the medium, whenever a discrete message takes priority in a work of art (song, film) over the essential content, the content almost always suffers. There is one pointedly accentuated notion coursing through the film, but for most of the length it mostly feels like flavor; it isn't meaningfully spotlighted until a block of text concluding the picture, at which point it seems extraneous and ill-considered, like an afterthought.
I don't dislike 'Endangered species,' but I also find myself unable to speak more highly of it than I do. Once again, it's well-made from a technical standpoint - but the writing is both heavy-handed and club-footed. The drama is excessive, and strained if not phony, while too many facets are so common as to be passe. There are good ideas here, but either there are too many, or they are applied to a film for which they are ill-suited. I don't think Bassett or her daughter, co-writer and cast member Isabel, are bad writers, but I feel like they need to work towards creating a movie where the narrative speaks for itself, without any need for twists, hooks, or embellishments. If a more simple, plainspoken, unadorned approach were taken here, the title would have greatly benefited. You could do a lot worse than 'Endangered species,' if you come across it, but unless you're a diehard fan of someone that's involved, you don't really need to fret about it, either.
Most recommendable for those open to all the wide variety that cinema has to offer, and for a lazy day when you want something to watch but can't make a decision.