Hats off to the creative minds behind “I.S.S.”, the smart and inventive science fiction thriller set aboard the low orbit International Space Station. Screenwriter Nick Shafir taps into real-world fears and tensions with his taut and suspenseful nailbiter. He offers up a frightening, paranoia-soaked vision of a not too distant future where mankind comes face to face with its own self-destructive nature. And he does so through a clever premise that unfolds within a most compelling setting.

Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite brings Shafir’s story to the screen with a firm control and a keen sense for tension building. She has a good grasp of the kind of movie she’s making, keeping a tight focus, skillfully managing budget constraints, and keenly utilizing the various facets of filmmaking (visual, sound, and performance more specifically). The result is a gripping sci-fi tale that resonates a lot more in our current day than we’d probably like to admit.

Following the Cold War the International Space Station (ISS) was constructed in a collaborative effort towards unity and progress between the United States and Russia. Primarily a research facility, the ISS has been instrumental in noteworthy advancements in technology, medicine, and the study of space. Pretty much all of that finds its way into the film’s story.

It opens with two United States astronauts, Kira Foster (Oscar winner Ariana DeBose) and Christian Campbell (John Gallagher Jr.) arriving at the ISS. They’re greeted by fellow American Gordon Barrett (Chris Messina) and three Russian cosmonauts, Weronika Vetrov (Masha Mashkova) and brothers Nicholai Pulov (Costa Ronin) and Alexey Pulov (Pilou Asbæk). This is Kira’s first time aboard the space station so she immediately starts learning the crew, getting acclimated to her new surroundings, and adjusting to life at zero gravity.

It doesn’t take long for Kira to take note of the camaraderie between the Americans and Russians. They’re a proudly unified group, never discussing the politics or the conflicts from the world below. But everything changes after they witness a series of massive explosions on the earth’s surface. Each group immediately attempts to contact their governments but to no avail. So as the earth burns down below, the crew aboard the ISS are left in the dark.

But only a short time later the Americans receive a chilling secret message from the surface. Their orders – take control of the ISS by any means necessary and no matter the cost. Surely the Russians received a similar message, right? From there Cowperthwaite steadily yet smartly ratchets up the suspense as crew members break off into factions, torn between their loyalties to each other and their calls to duty. Suspicions lead to distrust; apprehension gives way to panic.

Shafir’s script supplies an ample amount of twists and turns, leaning more on psychological tension than action-packed, effects-driven thrills. But that’s not to say the movie doesn’t look great. The stellar cinematography from Nick Remy Matthews creates a striking sense of claustrophobia and confinement within the station while also capturing the enormity of space outside. Meanwhile Anne Nikitin’s score looms ominously in the background adding to the growing dread.

If there’s one place “ISS” falls a little short it’s with the characters. They have very little depth leaving them hard to connect with on anything beyond a surface level. But even with that, they still fit nicely into the story, offering up different personas and perspectives that morph as their situation intensifies. The performances from the six-person cast are superb, especially from DeBose who turns out to be our fresh-eyed surrogate. It’s a strong feature film follow-up for the rising young star.

“I.S.S.” thrives thanks to a clever high concept idea from screenwriter Nick Shafir and fabulous execution by director Gabriela Cowperthwaite. The movie could have easily fizzled without one or the other. But both work in unison to bring us an impressively inspired and thoroughly entertaining genre film that happens to be the first big surprise of this young movie year. Don’t miss it. “I.S.S.” launches in select theaters on January 19th.

VERDICT – 4 STARS