Review Mark Harrison 15 Apr 2014 - 06:37
A horror movie set in space? Mark reckons you might find some of the various components of The Last Days On Mars a little familiar...
It wouldn't have been hard to slap a “The Thing Meets Gravity” or a “28 Days Later in space” strapline on the marketing campaign for The Last Days Of Mars, but it's arrived with markedly less fanfare than most mainstream horror movies released this year, pushed back from its intended release last September.
The film is a nuts-and-bolts sci-fi horror flick that played out of competition at last year's Cannes film festival, during directors' fortnight, but it's the interesting way in which it's been executed that marks it for such distinction, more than any real sort of innovation or unpredictability.
Based on The Animators, a 1975 short story by Sydney J. Bounds, the film takes place over the last 19 hours of...
A horror movie set in space? Mark reckons you might find some of the various components of The Last Days On Mars a little familiar...
It wouldn't have been hard to slap a “The Thing Meets Gravity” or a “28 Days Later in space” strapline on the marketing campaign for The Last Days Of Mars, but it's arrived with markedly less fanfare than most mainstream horror movies released this year, pushed back from its intended release last September.
The film is a nuts-and-bolts sci-fi horror flick that played out of competition at last year's Cannes film festival, during directors' fortnight, but it's the interesting way in which it's been executed that marks it for such distinction, more than any real sort of innovation or unpredictability.
Based on The Animators, a 1975 short story by Sydney J. Bounds, the film takes place over the last 19 hours of...
- 4/14/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
Screenwriter Clive Dawson writes about the thirty-eight years of taking The Last Days Of Mars to the screen.
Most feature films undergo a gestation period lasting several years, and The Last Days On Mars is no exception. However, the seeds of this particular film were first planted as long ago as 1975. The short science fiction story, The Animators, by acclaimed author Sydney J Bounds, was originally published that year as part of the Fontana paperback anthology, Tales of Terror from Outer Space. I first read the story in the early 1980s and, even today, it remains one of the most evocative and creepy short stories I’ve ever read.
In brief, Syd’s story takes place during the first manned expedition to Mars.
Most feature films undergo a gestation period lasting several years, and The Last Days On Mars is no exception. However, the seeds of this particular film were first planted as long ago as 1975. The short science fiction story, The Animators, by acclaimed author Sydney J Bounds, was originally published that year as part of the Fontana paperback anthology, Tales of Terror from Outer Space. I first read the story in the early 1980s and, even today, it remains one of the most evocative and creepy short stories I’ve ever read.
In brief, Syd’s story takes place during the first manned expedition to Mars.
- 4/13/2014
- by Clive Dawson
- Pure Movies
Director: Ruairi Robinson; Screenwriter: Clive Dawson; Starring: Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas, Romola Garai, Olivia Williams; Running time: 98 mins; Certificate: 15
When a viral infection breaks out in a science fiction movie, you know the prognosis. Lots of rabid growling, black eye shadow and homicidal rampages are inevitable. Herein lies the fundamental problem with Last Days on Mars - the script's staggering overfamiliarity is an insurmountable obstacle for the impressive cast and debutant director.
The movie's timing is impressive, with Nasa recently announcing their plans for an unmanned test flight later this year for Orion - a spacecraft designed to fly to Mars. Hopefully the first person to set foot on the red planet will have a more positive experience than viewers of this movie, which fails to make one small step in the direction of originality, instead taking one giant leap into genre cliché territory.
Vincent (Liev Schreiber), Kim (Olivia Williams...
When a viral infection breaks out in a science fiction movie, you know the prognosis. Lots of rabid growling, black eye shadow and homicidal rampages are inevitable. Herein lies the fundamental problem with Last Days on Mars - the script's staggering overfamiliarity is an insurmountable obstacle for the impressive cast and debutant director.
The movie's timing is impressive, with Nasa recently announcing their plans for an unmanned test flight later this year for Orion - a spacecraft designed to fly to Mars. Hopefully the first person to set foot on the red planet will have a more positive experience than viewers of this movie, which fails to make one small step in the direction of originality, instead taking one giant leap into genre cliché territory.
Vincent (Liev Schreiber), Kim (Olivia Williams...
- 4/12/2014
- Digital Spy
This smart thriller is a neo-zombie nightmare in space, set in the fascinatingly surrel landscape of the red planet
Some space scientists are about to finish a wearisome six-month stint checking for signs of life on the fiery surface of Mars. Exhausted after endless weeks of work, driving their tractor-wheeled vehicles across dusty terrain between the mother ship and the temporary outpost next to the dig site, and waiting for crackly video messages to come through from their nearest and dearest on earth, they're looking forward to getting home. Surely nothing absolutely terrifying can happen to them on the very last day, can it? Screenwriter Clive Dawson and director Ruairí Robinson have put together a smart thriller, based on the 1975 Sf short story The Animators by Sydney J Bounds: a neo-zombie nightmare in space, with Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai and Olivia Williams among the jumpsuited crew. Their day-to-day working lives...
Some space scientists are about to finish a wearisome six-month stint checking for signs of life on the fiery surface of Mars. Exhausted after endless weeks of work, driving their tractor-wheeled vehicles across dusty terrain between the mother ship and the temporary outpost next to the dig site, and waiting for crackly video messages to come through from their nearest and dearest on earth, they're looking forward to getting home. Surely nothing absolutely terrifying can happen to them on the very last day, can it? Screenwriter Clive Dawson and director Ruairí Robinson have put together a smart thriller, based on the 1975 Sf short story The Animators by Sydney J Bounds: a neo-zombie nightmare in space, with Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai and Olivia Williams among the jumpsuited crew. Their day-to-day working lives...
- 4/10/2014
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
This smart thriller is a neo-zombie nightmare in space, set in the fascinatingly surrel landscape of the red planet
Some space scientists are about to finish a wearisome six-month stint checking for signs of life on the fiery surface of Mars. Exhausted after endless weeks of work, driving their tractor-wheeled vehicles across dusty terrain between the mother ship and the temporary outpost next to the dig site, and waiting for crackly video messages to come through from their nearest and dearest on earth, they're looking forward to getting home. Surely nothing absolutely terrifying can happen to them on the very last day, can it? Screenwriter Clive Dawson and director Ruairí Robinson have put together a smart thriller, based on the 1975 Sf short story The Animators by Sydney J Bounds: a neo-zombie nightmare in space, with Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai and Olivia Williams among the jumpsuited crew. Their day-to-day working lives...
Some space scientists are about to finish a wearisome six-month stint checking for signs of life on the fiery surface of Mars. Exhausted after endless weeks of work, driving their tractor-wheeled vehicles across dusty terrain between the mother ship and the temporary outpost next to the dig site, and waiting for crackly video messages to come through from their nearest and dearest on earth, they're looking forward to getting home. Surely nothing absolutely terrifying can happen to them on the very last day, can it? Screenwriter Clive Dawson and director Ruairí Robinson have put together a smart thriller, based on the 1975 Sf short story The Animators by Sydney J Bounds: a neo-zombie nightmare in space, with Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai and Olivia Williams among the jumpsuited crew. Their day-to-day working lives...
- 4/10/2014
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Director: Ruairi Robinson
Writers: Sydney J. Bounds (short story), Clive Dawson (screenplay)
MPAA Rating: R
Run Time: 98 minutes
Summary:
On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses, and he falls into a deep crevice and near certain death. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another vanishes they start to suspect that the life-form they have discovered is not yet dead. As the group begins to fall apart it seems their only hope is the imminent arrival of the relief ship Aurora. Directed by Ruairi Robinson,...
Director: Ruairi Robinson
Writers: Sydney J. Bounds (short story), Clive Dawson (screenplay)
MPAA Rating: R
Run Time: 98 minutes
Summary:
On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses, and he falls into a deep crevice and near certain death. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another vanishes they start to suspect that the life-form they have discovered is not yet dead. As the group begins to fall apart it seems their only hope is the imminent arrival of the relief ship Aurora. Directed by Ruairi Robinson,...
- 3/17/2014
- by Jess Orso
- ScifiMafia
An unimaginative retread of recent science-fiction items like Sunshine and Prometheus (films that themselves are no beacons of originality), The Last Days on Mars is a movie whose greatest virtues (visual flair, production-value economy) are marred by a dull storyline that is unworthy of feature-length treatment. Screenwriter Clive Dawson, working from Sydney J. Bounds’s 1975 short story “The Animators,” fails to enliven the film’s genre-staple premise—a team of astronauts discovers something mysterious, dangerous, and seemingly beyond comprehension—with enough character detail or sci-fi creativity to sustain our attention. As a feature-length debut for director Ruairi Robinson, the movie’s not a bad...
- 11/30/2013
- Pastemagazine.com
Imagine if you were stranded on Mars, a distant planet with unlimited mysteries, moons away from any rescue or civilization. What could make that situation worse? You’re already thinking about needing a spaceship just to escape, you’ve got dwindling life support, you’re on freakin’ Mars, how could it possibly get any worse?! Zombies. That’s right bitches, there are zombies on Mars, Just Like John Carpenter Told Us There Would Be! Alright, those were totally ghosts, but any chance I get to reference John Carpenter’s Ghosts Of Mars I take. Anywho, yes, there’s apparently some type of bacterial life on Mars that turns people into zombies, spreading like an infection, and Liev Schreiber is the only man who can stop it during The Last Days On Mars.
In typical horror movie fashion, a group of astronauts are finishing up their work and preparing to head...
In typical horror movie fashion, a group of astronauts are finishing up their work and preparing to head...
- 11/22/2013
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Mars Attacks: Robinson’s Promising Debut an Arid Mirage
Early on in Ruairi Robinson’s directorial debut, The Last Days on Mars, a generic yet eerily promising set-up will doubtlessly remind audiences of a slew of similar space gone wrong sci-fi entries, both classic and not. An unmistakable derivative of Alien, right down to finicky crew dynamics, Robinson’s rather promising presentation fails to maximize the momentum as the film dwindles into its third act inevitabilities, left wide open for the possibility of more to come.
Only nineteen hours left of a six month research mission on Mars has an eight person crew going a little stir crazy. Science Officer Kim Aldrich (Olivia Williams) is upset that the team has found nothing substantial and it seems her hopes had been set on finding evidence of indigenous life. It seems she’s been taking out her disappointment on the other crew...
Early on in Ruairi Robinson’s directorial debut, The Last Days on Mars, a generic yet eerily promising set-up will doubtlessly remind audiences of a slew of similar space gone wrong sci-fi entries, both classic and not. An unmistakable derivative of Alien, right down to finicky crew dynamics, Robinson’s rather promising presentation fails to maximize the momentum as the film dwindles into its third act inevitabilities, left wide open for the possibility of more to come.
Only nineteen hours left of a six month research mission on Mars has an eight person crew going a little stir crazy. Science Officer Kim Aldrich (Olivia Williams) is upset that the team has found nothing substantial and it seems her hopes had been set on finding evidence of indigenous life. It seems she’s been taking out her disappointment on the other crew...
- 11/14/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Director: Ruairi Robinson. Writers: Sydney J. Bounds and Clive Dawson. Cast: Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Charles Brunel, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris and Goran Kostic. The Last Days on Mars is a film adaptation of Sydney J. Bounds' short story "The Animators. The film was recently released in a few theatres and on video-on-demand (Oct. 31st, 2013). Starring Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas and Olivia Williams, the film boils down to zombies in space. Flesheaters chase astronauts through much of the film's runtime. And, The Last Days on Mars is a good blend of horror and sci-fi, which makes this film mostly exciting. Though, a few surprises are lacking. At the heart of the film is an endearing relationship between two characters. But, love and life take a backseat to looming death, in this heart pounding adventure. The story begins with eight, bickering astronauts on Mars. Their six cabin feverish...
- 11/3/2013
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Sneak Peek the new science fiction thriller, "The Last Days on Mars", directed by Ruairi Robinson and written by Clive Dawson, starring Liev Schreiber.
Also starring are Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostić, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama:
"...a small colony of astronaut explorers from every nation on Earth...
"...succumbs one by one to a mysterious and terrifying unknown life form...
"...while gathering specimens on the 'Red Planet'..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Last Days On Mars"...
Also starring are Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostić, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama:
"...a small colony of astronaut explorers from every nation on Earth...
"...succumbs one by one to a mysterious and terrifying unknown life form...
"...while gathering specimens on the 'Red Planet'..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Last Days On Mars"...
- 11/1/2013
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
We've got 2 new posters up for The Last Days on Mars, a horror sci-fi film which looks eerily good, and stars Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostic, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama. Ruairi Robinson helms this one from the screenplay by Sydney J. Bounds and Clive Dawson. Michael Kuhn and Andrea Cornwell produce. You can catch this one on VOD now, as it found release on October 31st, or you can wait until December 6th to catch it in theaters via Magnet Releasing. These are actually UK posters, and we love the design. On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling...
- 11/1/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
A third poster has arrived for Ruairi Robinson's The Last Days on Mars, a film which looks ready to scare the hell out of viewers on October 31st (VOD), prior to hitting limited theaters on December 6th, 2013 via Magnet Releasing. Starring are Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostic, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama. Sydney J. Bounds and Clive Dawson wrote the screenplay for the Andrea Cornwell and Michael Kuhn-produced film. On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples...
- 10/31/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Odd Thomas
Written and directed by Stephen Sommers
USA, 2013
In Odd Thomas, the titular clairvoyant character (Anton Yelchin) can see dead people and bodachs (spirit creatures that alert him to future deaths). Working with the local police, headed by a chief played by Willem Dafoe, Odd goes around stopping people before they do bad things, but one potential criminal, a guy he lovingly dubs Fungus Bob, causes him all sorts of problems.
The story in Odd Thomas is half-baked and slapdash (despite Odd’s constant narration trying to explain everything), the universe it tries to create is vague and unconvincing, and the actors lack a certain amount of chemistry and personality (other characters have to literally remind the audience of how weird Odd is by literally using the word “odd” to describe him). It’s a rather dull affair, and in the wide spectrum of “people who can see the...
Written and directed by Stephen Sommers
USA, 2013
In Odd Thomas, the titular clairvoyant character (Anton Yelchin) can see dead people and bodachs (spirit creatures that alert him to future deaths). Working with the local police, headed by a chief played by Willem Dafoe, Odd goes around stopping people before they do bad things, but one potential criminal, a guy he lovingly dubs Fungus Bob, causes him all sorts of problems.
The story in Odd Thomas is half-baked and slapdash (despite Odd’s constant narration trying to explain everything), the universe it tries to create is vague and unconvincing, and the actors lack a certain amount of chemistry and personality (other characters have to literally remind the audience of how weird Odd is by literally using the word “odd” to describe him). It’s a rather dull affair, and in the wide spectrum of “people who can see the...
- 10/24/2013
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
Sneak Peek new images and footage from the science fiction thriller, "The Last Days on Mars", directed by Ruairi Robinson and written by Clive Dawson.
The film stars Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostić, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama:
"...a small colony of astronaut explorers from every nation on Earth succumbs one by one to a mysterious and terrifying unknown life form while gathering specimens on the 'Red Planet'..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Last Days On Mars"...
The film stars Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostić, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama:
"...a small colony of astronaut explorers from every nation on Earth succumbs one by one to a mysterious and terrifying unknown life form while gathering specimens on the 'Red Planet'..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Last Days On Mars"...
- 10/19/2013
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
This one looks like it could deliver some real chills powered by versatile Liev Schreiber on board. This second poster for The Last Days on Mars preps fans for the upcoming release which has Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Johnny Harris, Olivia Williams, Goran Kostic, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama in the cast as well. Ruairi Robinson directs from the screenplay by Clive Dawson, based on the short story by Sydney J. Bounds. This isn't R-rated, with only brief strong language in the MPAA rating, but that doesn't mean it won't scare the life out of you come its limited release on December 6th this year. You can watch it before then on iTunes and OnDemand as the film debutes on October 31st.
- 10/18/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Cinematic appreciation is all a matter of perspective. To some viewers, the new indie sci-fi horror flick The Last Days on Mars will feel like a patently familiar or even simplistic rehash of themes, ideas, settings, and characters we've all seen before. To others, including me, The Last Days on Mars will come across more like one of those (virtually countless) sci-fi (mis-)adventure films from the 1950s; films in which the promise of visiting a distant planet was almost as interesting as the people and the creatures who spend time on that planet.
Plot-wise, Ruairi Robinson's movie is certainly nothing revolutionary: it's the story of eight people who are spending their last 18 hours on the surface of Mars before packing up and heading for home. Obviously this is not how it works out. Given the film's title and tone, it should come as no surprise to learn that...
Plot-wise, Ruairi Robinson's movie is certainly nothing revolutionary: it's the story of eight people who are spending their last 18 hours on the surface of Mars before packing up and heading for home. Obviously this is not how it works out. Given the film's title and tone, it should come as no surprise to learn that...
- 10/7/2013
- by Scott Weinberg
- FEARnet
Last Days on Mars has debuted a trailer.
Liev Schreiber and Olivia Williams star in director Ruairi Robinson's sci-fi horror.
The film centres around a manned mission to Mars.
When the astronauts unleash a deadly infection they must fight for their own survival and that of the entire human race.
Elias Koteas, Romola Garai, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostić, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama will also feature in the movie.
Clive Dawson wrote the script based on a short story by Sydney J Bounds.
Last Days on Mars opens today (September 19) in the UK and will arrive in the Us on December 6.
Liev Schreiber and Olivia Williams star in director Ruairi Robinson's sci-fi horror.
The film centres around a manned mission to Mars.
When the astronauts unleash a deadly infection they must fight for their own survival and that of the entire human race.
Elias Koteas, Romola Garai, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostić, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama will also feature in the movie.
Clive Dawson wrote the script based on a short story by Sydney J Bounds.
Last Days on Mars opens today (September 19) in the UK and will arrive in the Us on December 6.
- 9/19/2013
- Digital Spy
Screening at Cannes this year in the Directors’ Fortnight, Ruairi Robinson’s The Last Days of Mars is the latest thriller to make its way out into the vast terrain of space for its setting.
Liev Schreiber tops an impressive international cast in the UK/Irish/Us production, and now the first poster has debuted over on io9, following the first trailer from MSN.
On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses, and he falls into a deep crevice and near certain death. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body.
Liev Schreiber tops an impressive international cast in the UK/Irish/Us production, and now the first poster has debuted over on io9, following the first trailer from MSN.
On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses, and he falls into a deep crevice and near certain death. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body.
- 9/17/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Check out the new poster, a photo and the international trailer from Magnet Releasing's The Last Days on Mars, starring Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams, Johnny Harris, Goran Kostic, Tom Cullen and Yusra Warsama. The film's being sent out by Universal overseas, as you can see in the trailer, but domestically, Magnet Releasing distributes. Ruari Robinson directs the film from the screenplay by Sydney J. Bounds and Clive Dawson. Last Days on Mars can be seen via iTunes & and On Demand on October 31st followed by a December 6, 2013 theatrical release date. On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory...
- 9/17/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Filmmaker Ruairi Robinson ('BlinkyTM') makes his directorial debut with new sci-fi thriller 'Last Days On Mars' later this year when it arrives on VOD. Magnet Releasing have picked up the Us distribution rights to the Focus Features project which sees a group of astronauts in perilous danger whilst carrying out the first manned mission to Mars. The movie stars Liev Schreiber ('Scream 2'), Olivia Williams ('The Sixth Sense'), Elias Koteas ('Shutter Island'), Johnny Harris ('Black Death') and hottie Romola Garai -below ('The Hour'). The British sci-fi feature is based on a short story by English author Sydney J. Bounds. Robinson helms from a screenplay adapted by Clive Dawson ('The Bill'). ...
- 7/11/2013
- Horror Asylum
Some casting news has come in for Irish helmer Ruairi Robinson's now filming fear flick The Last Days on Mars, based on a script by Clive Dawson. Read on to find out who will be spending their final seconds on the angry red planet.
Liev Schreiber (Scream 2, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) alongside Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense, Rushmore), Romola Garai (One Day, Atonement), Elias Koteas (Shutter Island, Zodiac), Tom Cullen (Weekend), Goran Kostic (In the Land of Blood and Honey, Taken) and Johnny Harris (Snow White and the Huntsman) are all set to star.
The thriller is being produced by Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwall (The Scouting Book for Boys).
The flick, which was previously titled The Animators, follows the story of an astronaut crew on Mars on the verge of a major breakthrough having collected rock specimens that reveal microscopic evidence of life.
Liev Schreiber (Scream 2, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) alongside Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense, Rushmore), Romola Garai (One Day, Atonement), Elias Koteas (Shutter Island, Zodiac), Tom Cullen (Weekend), Goran Kostic (In the Land of Blood and Honey, Taken) and Johnny Harris (Snow White and the Huntsman) are all set to star.
The thriller is being produced by Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwall (The Scouting Book for Boys).
The flick, which was previously titled The Animators, follows the story of an astronaut crew on Mars on the verge of a major breakthrough having collected rock specimens that reveal microscopic evidence of life.
- 5/19/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Oscar-nominated Irish director Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey) has gone into pre-production on his debut feature 'The Last Days of Mars', which is being co-produced by Ireland's Fantastic Films and boasts a strong cast including Liev Schreiber (Scream), Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky), and Romola Garai (Atonement). Adapted by screenwriter Clive Dawson (The Bunker) from a short story by Sydney J. Bound, the Irish Film Board-funded feature will begin shooting at Shepperton Studios in London next month before filming gets underway on location in Jordan.
- 4/25/2012
- IFTN
Ruairi Robinson got a few headlines when, about a year ago, he debuted Blinky™, a science fiction short that featured the acting talents of Max Records (Where the Wild Things Are); past that, his career has been a little slower than some may prefer.. However, The Daily Mail (via ThePlaylist) reports that he’s wrangled a trio of players for a sci-fi feature, The Last Days on Mars, which will begin shooting in July.
Liev Schreiber, Sally Hawkins, and Romola Garai (One Day, Atonement) will be leading the film, written by Clive Dawson and based on a short story by Sydney J. Bounds. It follows eight astronauts on a Mars space station who encounter danger when they discover an unknown, dangerous bacteria; BleedingCool, having read the script, described it as something of a horror film, what with “a lot of business with airlocks that could be outstandingly tense if deftly handled.
Liev Schreiber, Sally Hawkins, and Romola Garai (One Day, Atonement) will be leading the film, written by Clive Dawson and based on a short story by Sydney J. Bounds. It follows eight astronauts on a Mars space station who encounter danger when they discover an unknown, dangerous bacteria; BleedingCool, having read the script, described it as something of a horror film, what with “a lot of business with airlocks that could be outstandingly tense if deftly handled.
- 4/16/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Is there a curse of sci-fi movies set on Mars? We don't believe that, but there's plenty of evidence to support that theory, with virtually every film set on our nearest planetary neighbor -- from "Mission To Mars" to "Red Planet" from "Ghosts Of Mars" and "Mars Needs Moms" to "John Carter" -- all disappointing critically, commercially or both. But director Ruairi Robinson ain't afraid of no curse.
The Irish filmmaker made his name with the Oscar-nominated animated short "Fifty Percent Grey," and has since made a couple of acclaimed live-action tinged shorts -"Silent City" with Cillian Murphy and "Blinky" with Max Records (watch both below). But despite the director being briefly attached to the live-action remake of "Akira" in the middle of the last decade, he's been yet to move into the feature film world, but he's about to finally get rolling on his debut.
Robinson's been attached...
The Irish filmmaker made his name with the Oscar-nominated animated short "Fifty Percent Grey," and has since made a couple of acclaimed live-action tinged shorts -"Silent City" with Cillian Murphy and "Blinky" with Max Records (watch both below). But despite the director being briefly attached to the live-action remake of "Akira" in the middle of the last decade, he's been yet to move into the feature film world, but he's about to finally get rolling on his debut.
Robinson's been attached...
- 4/13/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
At this week’s American Film Market, Focus Features introduced plans to make The Last Days of Mars, a futuristic space thriller set on the surface of Mars to be directed by Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson in early 2012.
Robinson was nominated for an Oscar for his short film Fifty Percent Grey and was briefly considered for Warner Bros’ live-action Akira remake, in one of many iterations.
The script, written by Clive Dawson, centers on an eight-man crew wrapping up the first manned mission to Mars in 2036. It’s day 179, the final day before the spaceship Aurora arrives to relieve them, when their paleontologist makes a monumental discovery at Site 9. Microscopic signs of life. Then he promptly falls in the pit, dies, and is reanimated as the walking, chasing, attacking undead. The crew dwindles in the descending hours as they become infected themselves.
The plot is sort of John Carpenter’s...
Robinson was nominated for an Oscar for his short film Fifty Percent Grey and was briefly considered for Warner Bros’ live-action Akira remake, in one of many iterations.
The script, written by Clive Dawson, centers on an eight-man crew wrapping up the first manned mission to Mars in 2036. It’s day 179, the final day before the spaceship Aurora arrives to relieve them, when their paleontologist makes a monumental discovery at Site 9. Microscopic signs of life. Then he promptly falls in the pit, dies, and is reanimated as the walking, chasing, attacking undead. The crew dwindles in the descending hours as they become infected themselves.
The plot is sort of John Carpenter’s...
- 11/4/2011
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Academy Award nominated Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey, Blinky) is set to direct his first feature film, the highly anticipated thriller The Last Days On Mars based on a script by acclaimed screenwriter Clive Dawson, with design talents including the extraordinary team at Weta (District 9, X-Men First Class and Avatar) behind the special effects. Qwerty Films.Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys) will produce the film, with Focus Features International handling international sales and distribution. Ffi will commence sales at the American Film Market in November.
The Last Days On Mars is currently in pre-production and is expected to start shooting early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK.
As their last day on Mars draws to a close, the astronaut crew is on the verge of a major breakthrough – collected rock specimens reveal microscopic evidence of life.
The Last Days On Mars is currently in pre-production and is expected to start shooting early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK.
As their last day on Mars draws to a close, the astronaut crew is on the verge of a major breakthrough – collected rock specimens reveal microscopic evidence of life.
- 11/3/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Oscar-nominated director, Ruairi Robinson (Blinky) who was once set to direct the live action adaptation of Akira has scored the director’s chair on The Last Days On Mars, penned by Clive Dawson. The story focuses on an astronaut crew’s mission to Mars, where a routine excavation on the red planet turns deadly as one crew member falls to his death and has his body taken over and re-animated by the life form the crew was searching for.
The project is currently in pre-production and is expected to go before cameras early next year at Shepperton Studios in the U.K. and on location in Jordan. The film is being produced by Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys) of Qwerty Films. The film’s distribution and international sales will be handled by Focus Features.
The project is currently in pre-production and is expected to go before cameras early next year at Shepperton Studios in the U.K. and on location in Jordan. The film is being produced by Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys) of Qwerty Films. The film’s distribution and international sales will be handled by Focus Features.
- 11/2/2011
- by Jason Moore
- ScifiMafia
Oscar nominated Irish director Ruairi Robinson (Blinky, Fifty Percent Grey) is set to direct his first feature film, thriller 'The Last Days on Mars', which is penned by screenwriter Clive Dawson. Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys) will produce 'The Last Days on Mars' with Focus Features International handling international sales and distribution. Focus will commence sales at the American Film Market in November.
- 11/2/2011
- IFTN
Irish helmer Ruairi Robinson (who has some fantastic horror shorts to his credit list including 'BlinkyTM') has been snapped up for directorial duties aboard the new Qwerty Films production 'Last Days on Mars'. The space-based thriller, from the script by Clive Dawson, will deal with an astronaut crew based on Mars whose last day on the planet becomes somewhat nightmarish. You can read the full plot info below which kind of reads like 'The Thing' in space. Focus Features International will be distributing the feature internationally and its set to shoot early 2012 on location in Jordan and also at the UK's Shepperton Studios....
- 11/2/2011
- Horror Asylum
The Last Days on Mars to be directed by Ruairi Robinson. Clive Dawson scripted The Last Days on Mars will have Ruairi Robinson in the director’s chair if sales go well at the American Film Market. The Last Days on Mars is about a predatory lifeform on Mars discovered by a research team hours before the team is set to return to Earth.
The official press release on The Last Days on Mars:
London (November 1, 2011) – Academy Award nominated Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey, Blinky) is set to direct his first feature film, the highly anticipated thriller The Last Days On Mars based on a script by acclaimed screenwriter Clive Dawson, with design talents including the extraordinary team at Weta (District 9, X-Men First Class and Avatar) behind the special effects. Qwerty Films’ Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys) will produce the film,...
The official press release on The Last Days on Mars:
London (November 1, 2011) – Academy Award nominated Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey, Blinky) is set to direct his first feature film, the highly anticipated thriller The Last Days On Mars based on a script by acclaimed screenwriter Clive Dawson, with design talents including the extraordinary team at Weta (District 9, X-Men First Class and Avatar) behind the special effects. Qwerty Films’ Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys) will produce the film,...
- 11/2/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Remember that awesome robot short Blinky? Well the filmmaker behind it, Ruairi Robinson, has landed his first feature film project. Deadline reports on an Afm announcement for a project titled The Last Days On Mars, a sci-fi thriller being directed by Robinson from a screenplay by Clive Dawson ("The Bill"), with design talents including the team at Weta behind the special effects. Perhaps the next District 9 on the way? "I have loved making sci-fi films since I made Pitch Black and for The Last Days On Mars we have assembled a great team to do justice to a wonderful and commercial script." Quite a pitch. Details ahead! Ruairi Robinson's The Last Days On Mars is currently in pre-production and is expected to start shooting early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK. Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, I Heart Huckabees, Severance, Being John Malkovich...
- 11/1/2011
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Once upon a time, Ruairi Robinson was supposed to break-through into feature film by directing the live-action “Akira” movie. That was a while ago. Way back in 2008, to be exact. “Akira” has since gone to someone else, but Robinson has now resurfaced with another sci-fi project that is currently selling over at the American Film Market. The Academy Award nominated Robinson will be making his feature film debut on “The Last Days on Mars” for Focus Features and Qwerty Films, directing from a script by Clive Dawson, with the boys at Weta doing the honors on special effects. The plot for “Mars” goes thusly: As their last day on Mars draws to a close, the astronaut crew is on the verge of a major breakthrough – collected rock specimens reveal microscopic evidence of life. Meanwhile, communication is underway with Aurora, the approaching spacecraft that will relieve the crew of their operations.
- 11/1/2011
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
Short film and commercial director Ruairi Robinson has been attached to a few studio projects over the past year or two, notably one incarnation of Warner Bros. live-action Akira remake. His last big project was the 'killer robot' short Blinky, which you can see here [1]. Now he's got a new project brewing that will feature effects from Weta. If sales work out for The Last Days on Mars at the American Film Market, the film will shoot next year based on a script by Clive Dawson. The film follows the discovery of a predatory life form on Mars by a research team that is only hours away from leaving the planet to return to Earth. A press release with a few more details is after the break. London (November 1, 2011) – Academy Award nominated Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey, Blinky) is set to direct his first feature film, the highly anticipated thriller...
- 11/1/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Academy Award nominated Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey, Blinky) is about to make the jump to feature film directing. Comingsoon reports that he is set to direct the thriller The Last Days On Mars based on a script by Clive Dawson. The news gets even better because the Weta team behind District 9, X-Men: First Class and Avatar are doing the special effects on the project.
The film is being produced by Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn (The Duchess,Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys). Focus Features International will handle international sales and distribution, with sales kicking off at the American Film Market. Pre-production has already begun, and production is expected to start shooting early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK. The film is described as follows:
As their last day on Mars draws to a close, the astronaut crew...
The film is being produced by Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn (The Duchess,Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys). Focus Features International will handle international sales and distribution, with sales kicking off at the American Film Market. Pre-production has already begun, and production is expected to start shooting early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK. The film is described as follows:
As their last day on Mars draws to a close, the astronaut crew...
- 11/1/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
There's no question that Apollo 18 left a really sour taste in the mouths of horror fans everywhere as its moon spiders limped across the box office finish line, but that doesn't mean we're still not down for some interplanetary trips to terror!
According to Variety Irish helmer Ruairi Robinson is set to direct his first feature film, The Last Days on Mars, based on a script by Clive Dawson, which Focus Features Intl. will be pre-selling to buyers at the American Film Market this week.
The thriller, which is in pre-production, will be produced by Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwall (The Scouting Book for Boys).
The flick, which was previously titled The Animators, follows the story of an astronaut crew on Mars on the verge of a major breakthrough, having collected rock specimens that reveal microscopic evidence of life. In their last hours on the planet,...
According to Variety Irish helmer Ruairi Robinson is set to direct his first feature film, The Last Days on Mars, based on a script by Clive Dawson, which Focus Features Intl. will be pre-selling to buyers at the American Film Market this week.
The thriller, which is in pre-production, will be produced by Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwall (The Scouting Book for Boys).
The flick, which was previously titled The Animators, follows the story of an astronaut crew on Mars on the verge of a major breakthrough, having collected rock specimens that reveal microscopic evidence of life. In their last hours on the planet,...
- 11/1/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Ruairi Robinson ("Blinky") will make his feature directorial debut on "The Last Days On Mars" for Qwerty Films and PolyGram Films says The Hollywood Reporter.
Based on a script by Clive Dawson, the story follows an astronaut crew on a mission to Mars. A routine excavation turns deadly when one of them falls to his death and his body taken host and re-animated by the very life form they sought to discover.
Shooting kicks off early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK. Michael Kuhn and Andrea Cornwell will produce.
Based on a script by Clive Dawson, the story follows an astronaut crew on a mission to Mars. A routine excavation turns deadly when one of them falls to his death and his body taken host and re-animated by the very life form they sought to discover.
Shooting kicks off early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK. Michael Kuhn and Andrea Cornwell will produce.
- 11/1/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Irish helmer Ruairi Robinson - one of my favorite indie/commercial directors - is set to direct his first feature film The Last Days On Mars, based on a script by Clive Dawson, which Focus Features Intl. will be pre-selling to buyers at the American Film Market this week, reports Variety. The thriller, which was previously titled The Animators, "follows the story of an astronaut crew on Mars on the verge of a major breakthrough having collected rock specimens that reveal microscopic evidence of life. In their last hours on the planet, two astronauts go back to a cavernous valley on the surface of Mars to collect further evidence for their discovery, but a routine excavation turns deadly when one of them falls to his death and his body is taken as a host and re-animated by the very life form they sought to discover."...
- 11/1/2011
- bloody-disgusting.com
Academy Award nominated director Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey) is set to direct his very first feature film, The Last Days On Mars. Based on a script by screenwriter Clive Dawson (The Bunker), it's a thriller about the discovery of the first life on Mars. The synopsis- As their last day on Mars draws to a close, the astronaut crew is on the verge of a major breakthrough – collected rock specimens reveal microscopic evidence of life. Meanwhile, communication is...
- 11/1/2011
- by Alex Riviello
- JoBlo.com
London (November 1, 2011) – Academy Award nominated Ruairi Robinson (Fifty Percent Grey, Blinky) is set to direct his first feature film, the highly anticipated thriller The Last Days On Mars based on a script by acclaimed screenwriter Clive Dawson, with design talents including the extraordinary team at Weta (District 9, X-Men First Class and Avatar) behind the special effects. Qwerty Films’ Michael Kuhn (The Duchess, Being John Malkovich) and Andrea Cornwell (The Scouting Book for Boys) will produce the film, with Focus Features International handling international sales and distribution. Ffi will commence sales at the American Film Market in November. The Last Days On Mars is currently in pre-production and is expected to start shooting early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK. As their last day on Mars draws to a close, the astronaut crew is on the verge of a major breakthrough – collected rock specimens reveal microscopic evidence of life.
- 11/1/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Academy Award nominated Ruairi Robinson ( Fifty Percent Grey , Blinky ) is set to direct his first feature film, the thriller The Last Days On Mars based on a script by screenwriter Clive Dawson, with design talents including the team at Weta ( District 9 , X-Men: First Class and Avatar ) behind the special effects. Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn ( The Duchess , Being John Malkovich ) and Andrea Cornwell ( The Scouting Book for Boys ) will produce the film, with Focus Features International handling international sales and distribution. Ffi will commence sales at the American Film Market in November. The Last Days On Mars is currently in pre-production and is expected to start shooting early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK. The film is described as...
- 11/1/2011
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Academy Award nominated Ruairi Robinson ( Fifty Percent Grey , Blinky ) is set to direct his first feature film, the thriller The Last Days On Mars based on a script by screenwriter Clive Dawson, with design talents including the team at Weta ( District 9 , X-Men: First Class and Avatar ) behind the special effects. Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn ( The Duchess , Being John Malkovich ) and Andrea Cornwell ( The Scouting Book for Boys ) will produce the film, with Focus Features International handling international sales and distribution. Ffi will commence sales at the American Film Market in November. The Last Days On Mars is currently in pre-production and is expected to start shooting early 2012 on location in Jordan and at Shepperton Studios in the UK. The film is described as...
- 11/1/2011
- Comingsoon.net
First time feature film director Ruairi Robinson is attached to direct a sci-fi thriller called The Animators which centers on a crew of astronauts who are picked off one by one by a malevolent force.
Robinson has directed a few short films, including a trailer to one of these shorts that we recently posted called Blinky which stars Max Records (Where the Wild Things Are). He was also nominated for an Oscar in 2001 for a short film he made called Fifty Percent Grey.
The guy seems like he's got some solid talent. At one point he was being looked at as a possible director for the live-action Akira film. The Animators is set to shoot in early 2011. The script for the film was written by Clive Dawson. The Playlist has read it and says it is “reminiscent of Carpenter’s The Thing.” They describe the story as follows,
A crew...
Robinson has directed a few short films, including a trailer to one of these shorts that we recently posted called Blinky which stars Max Records (Where the Wild Things Are). He was also nominated for an Oscar in 2001 for a short film he made called Fifty Percent Grey.
The guy seems like he's got some solid talent. At one point he was being looked at as a possible director for the live-action Akira film. The Animators is set to shoot in early 2011. The script for the film was written by Clive Dawson. The Playlist has read it and says it is “reminiscent of Carpenter’s The Thing.” They describe the story as follows,
A crew...
- 11/19/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Off the heels of the astounding short teaser Blinky, Screen Daily reports that Qwerty Films have appointed Irish director Ruairi Robinson to helm their sci-fi horror picture The Animators, which was highly placed on The Brit List. Robinsons animated short Fifty Percent Grey was nominated for an Oscar back in 2002, and since then he was behind the sci-fi short Silent City, with Cillian Murphy, and is currently completing another short, Blinky, which stars Where The Wild Things Are star Max Records as a boy whose Christmas present turns out to be a little sinisteragain (watch it here). Penned by The Bunker's Clive Dawson, the pic will follow a crew of astronauts on the Martian surface, who discover evidence of bacterial life. It wont greatly surprise you that things go downhill from there, and the explorers start to be killed off.
- 11/19/2010
- bloody-disgusting.com
Ruairi Robinson, director of that trailer you might have seen online call Blinky (video below), has been hired to direct the feature film The Animators . Qwerty Films is shepherding the sci-fi/horror film written by The Bunker 's Clive Dawson, who adapted Sydney J. Bounds' short story. The Playlist says the script follows a group of astronauts who touch down on martian soil and discover bacterial life. Things go awry from there. The site adds it is very reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers . Robinson should be casting the film soon.
- 11/19/2010
- shocktillyoudrop.com
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