SEOUL, South Korea — In the chilling expanse of space, the Hollywood sci-fi genre is flipped with a grim but eerily enticing narrative in “Mickey 17,” directed by South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho. The recently premiered movie stars Robert Pattinson, who takes on the surreal task of playing multiple incarnations of the same character, each named Mickey Barnes. This high-concept tale delves into the darker side of human cloning and technological ethics, much like Edward Ashton’s 2022 science fiction novel, “Mickey7,” on which it is based.
“Mickey 17” explores the harrowing adventures of an “Expendable” – a human clone designed for dangerous missions from which death is almost certain but not final. Pattinson’s character is an unwilling participant who faces death repeatedly through the technology of human printing. Each time he dies, Mickey is resurrected through the use of organic waste, with updated memories reimplanted, posing deep moral and existential questions.
The film is set in the year 2054 on Niflheim, a frigid, distant planet that serves as a colony base for its crew, more than four years away from Earth. Mickey’s unique role as an Expendable finds him facing gruesome experiments and fatal trials to ensure the survival and expansion of the human colony on this unforgiving planet.
Director Bong Joon-ho, known for his ability to blend sharp social commentary with entertaining storytelling, as seen in his Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” introduces a satirical but dark view of human disposability and corporate exploitation in space exploration. The resounding theme of human life reduced to mere tools in a dystopian future resonates through the eerie corridors of the compounds that dominate “Mickey 17.”
Pattinson’s portrayal of Mickey offers a complex view into the psyche of a man repeatedly confronting his mortality and the ethical entanglements of cloning. This role highlights another bold choice in Pattinson’s career, marked by his transition from heartthrob vampire in the “Twilight” saga to challenging roles under visionary directors. His performance is both haunting and deeply engaging, managing to inject humor and pathos into a bleak scenario.
Supporting Pattinson’s Mickey is Naomi Ackie, who plays Nasha, his girlfriend, and a source of few light-hearted moments in an otherwise tense environment. Their relationship provides brief respites of normalcy and humanity amid the surrounding chaos.
The antagonistic forces in the film are led by Mark Ruffalo’s Kenneth Marshall, a would-be authoritarian leader with delusions of colonizing Niflheim, and his wife played by Toni Collette, who adds a sinister charm to the unfolding drama. Their performances contribute to the menacing atmosphere that challenges Mickey’s every move.
Visual effects used to create the menacing wildlife of Niflheim and the subtle technologies that dominate the human existence on the icy planet, similarly to Bong’s earlier work in “Okja,” play a critical role in forming the film’s oppressive yet fascinating aesthetic. These elements enhance the narrative’s critical stance on biotechnology and animal rights.
“Mickey 17” does not just entertain but also provokes thought about the direction of human technological advancements and the moral implications of cloning and resurrecting human life. It asks poignant questions about identity, autonomy, and survival at the edge of human existence.
As the film concludes with a strangely hopeful finale, it leaves the audience contemplating the value of individual life and the ethical boundaries of playing god with human genetics. Bong Joon-ho once again proves his mastery in blending genre cinema with profound thematic concerns, making “Mickey 17” a significant addition to the cinematic exploration of future human societies — a thought-provoking voyage that’s as much about inner space as it is about outer space.