disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

[SXSW 2020] RED HEAVEN -- A Fascinating Look at Isolation and the Human Psyche

3/19/2020

0 Comments

 
Review by Camden Ferrell
Picture
Red Heaven is one of the more fascinating documentaries I have seen in the past years. From directors Lauren Defilippo and Katherine Gorringe, this is a unique documentary that explores the human psyche in such a profound way. Thanks to great subjects, authenticity, and solid execution, this movie succeeds on an informative level as well as an entertaining level.
 
As part of a NASA experiment, six scientists live on “Mars” for a year in order to explore the effects of isolation on humans. “Mars” is really an isolated part of Hawaii, but their routine still simulates what would most likely occur on the Mars expedition. This experiment is super interesting, and it’s a fantastic study of the human morale.
 
At the beginning of the experiment, each scientist is given a camera to document their experiences. This documentary is expertly assembled from that footage. Defilippo and Gorringe were able to boil down all of that material to less than 90 minutes of footage, and not a second was wasted. It is organized very well, and it steadily goes through the entire year in isolation.
 
It’s fascinating to see how each person’s attitude, morale, and interactions slowly change over time. It’s a concept that keeps the audience in suspense and always eager to see how things progress. It’s hard to really imagine the psychological tolls of the experiment, but the character’s talking head interviews do their best to contextualize their thoughts and feelings. 
Picture
As subjects, the six scientists are very interesting. They’re all very charming and funny at times. It all feels very authentic and natural, and these realistic moments are what gives the film a human element. Each possess unique abilities, backgrounds, and skills, and the movie never feels repetitive thanks to this.
 
One of the few flaws of this movie comes from how fast it goes by. It’s well-paced, but it feels like the movie could have spent more time to deeper explore these characters during times of turmoil. It goes through all 365 days very quickly, and there are times where it would have been nice to slow down. Despite this, it’s still a highly entertaining documentary that never generates any boredom for the viewer.
 
This is an experiment that is extremely valuable to NASA and the future of the space program, and it’s really an honor to get to see a first-hand look at this experience. While the results won’t be published until 2021, this documentary gives audiences a taste of what to expect. This was clearly a Herculean task for everyone involved, but all of this work paid off on both a scientific and artistic level.
 
Red Heaven is a captivating look at isolation and the enduring nature of the human spirit. It is as educational as it is enjoyable. There is a lot to admire about the craftsmanship of the film and the efforts of the scientists in the experiment. Keep this movie on your radar for future viewing.
 
Red Heaven was set to debut at the cancelled 2020 SXSW Film Festival. It is currently seeking distribution.
 
Rating: 4/5

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Borja Izuzquiz
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Daniel Lima
    Dan Skip Allen
    Erin M. Brady
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About