Another Earth Looks Like Some Smart and Haunting Sci-Fi

This article is over 13 years old and may contain outdated information

A new sci-fi film due out this July looks like it might be one of the most thoughtful things to hit theaters this summer.

Not all science fiction movies have to be filled with action to be entertaining works of art. Occasionally, we get a thoughtful, intelligent movie released contains both a plot and characters that audiences respond to. They’re rare, but they stand out for their rarity, and it looks like Another Earth is set to be one of those films.

Basically, the movie is an already complicated love story -about a girl who falls in love with a man after she killed his family in a drunk driving accident- that gets even more twisty when a duplicate Earth turns up in the sky. Not only that, but it turns out that this second Earth containing doppelgƤnger versions of us.

Here’s the official movie description, as listed on Apple’s movie trailer page:

In Another Earth, Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling), a bright young woman accepted into MIT’s astrophysics program, aspires to explore the cosmos. A brilliant composer, John Burroughs (William Mapother), has just reached the pinnacle of his profession and is about to have a second child. On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, tragedy strikes and the lives of these strangers become irrevocably intertwined.

To me, the movie’s tone seems reminiscent of Gattaca, which is one of my favorite science-fiction movies. Another Earth is due out on July 22nd, though whether or not it will receive a wide release remains to be seen.

Recommended Videos

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.Ā Learn more about our Affiliate Policy