Crater (2023)
Once again, Mckenna Grace delivers a standout performance in this sci-fi adventure targeted towards young adults, which takes place in the year 2257 on a moon colony.
While not a film that inspires regret at its streaming fate, "Crater" is far from algorithm-created dross and deserves attention. Set on a lunar colony in the year 2257, the movie follows a group of five young friends who hijack a rover for one last adventure before parting ways. With a Gen-Z sensibility, the film examines the idea of a bleak future on Earth and the possibility of finding hope elsewhere. Kyle Patrick Alvarez directs this young-adult sci-fi with a deft hand, making it a worthwhile watch for sci-fi fans and younger viewers alike.
The lunar colony's lack of a distinct culture may explain why the teenagers of 2257 appear to dress and talk similarly to their present-day counterparts. This is because the environment they grew up in has caused them to have an unanchored and timeless quality. The four close friends, Caleb, Dylan, Borney, and Marcus, are joined by the new arrival from Earth, Addison, to form a quintet to carry out their plan. Chief among them is Caleb, who is dealing with the recent loss of his parents. While the group is resigned to their bleak circumstances and lacks optimism for the future, they find solace in their bond and the time they spend together.
Caleb's upcoming transfer to Omega, a distant colony that takes 75 years to reach, is one of the "death benefits" he receives after his father's death in a mining accident on the lunar colony. As a result, he must go into cryostasis, never seeing his friends or the world he knows again. To pay homage to his father's curiosity about a mysterious crater, Caleb and his friends devise a risky plan to visit it before he leaves. It's a weighty plot for a young adult drama from Disney, but "Crater" manages to maintain a lighthearted tone.
The tension between the lunar-born characters and Addison, the newcomer from Earth, adds an interesting layer of world-building to the film. Earthlings are depicted as different, or even peculiar, in their ways. The film highlights how downtrodden earthlings are enticed to work on the moon, with the promise of earning a spot on the coveted Omega colony for themselves and their loved ones after 20 years of labor. However, they are kept in the dark about the fine print in their contracts that may extend their contracts for years or even decades. On the other hand, children born on the lunar colony are only taught about mining and lack knowledge of anything else. Addison becomes a source of curiosity and a fountain of knowledge, as the lunar-born teens ask her questions about Earth, from the color of the sky to the allure of baseball.
Grace, a precocious young talent previously seen in everything from “I, Tonya” and “Gifted” to “Captain Marvel” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” delivers the strongest performance of the ensemble — something that’s becoming a habit of hers. Frequently cast as the main character’s younger self in flashbacks, including in 2021’s “Malignant,” Grace shows here that she’s more than ready to lead a film.
It feels like "Crater" struggles to maintain a consistent level of tension and drama throughout its runtime, and at times the story feels like it is simply trying to fill time. However, the film does explore some interesting themes and ideas, such as the differences between life on Earth and life on a lunar colony, as well as the hopelessness and anger that can arise when one has nothing to look forward to. While it may not be as dark or resonant as "Never Let Me Go," the film does give a voice to its characters and their struggles, which may resonate with audiences, especially younger viewers.