The 'report' bit is because the story is presented non-linearly, framed by interviews with mission control staff back on earth who are watching/reviewing as long as they can - because 6 months into the journey a solar storm knocks out the ship’s communication with them so they can track it no more. So we're then pretty much solely onboard with the crew and living their adventure.
As you will imagine, not everything goes smoothly, systems go wrong, unexpected events occur with potentially catastrophic outcomes which they have to deal with, drawing on their experience, technical knowledge and guts. They eventually make it to the surface of the moon on their landing craft, despite all the above - but landing in the wrong place on the surface - they have no choice other than to carry on and try to explore what they find, where they are.
They manage to use a robot drill to carve a hole through the ice and once underneath, we probably have the most interesting part of the film to be honest, as its camera starts to explore the water beneath, looking up at the ice, with the crew agog as they hope/expect to find signs of life. Wydra's character gets a suit on and heads out with lab gear on top of the ice and excitedly does indeed find some sort of algae or unicellular organism - so yes, proof of life! However, while she's doing it, a sinister blue light appears under the ice and everyone suddenly gets concerned about radiation.
One thing leads to another and the crew reckon they'd better hot-foot it out and off of the surface, back to Europa One. Of course, not much goes to plan and, again, they have to deal with one crisis after another. I won't spoil any of the outcomes in case you've not seen it but it's certainly worth the wait, if you can stand the 'found footage' style of filmmaking, for the grand finale.
One thing leads to another and the crew reckon they'd better hot-foot it out and off of the surface, back to Europa One. Of course, not much goes to plan and, again, they have to deal with one crisis after another. I won't spoil any of the outcomes in case you've not seen it but it's certainly worth the wait, if you can stand the 'found footage' style of filmmaking, for the grand finale.
It's pretty well acted by the cast, though it doesn't feel much like anyone's trying too hard. There are various back stories threaded in about people's families back home and what they're going to do when they see them again, questions about people having been short of oxygen in part of the chaos who might be losing their grip on reality - the usual mix of a good claustrophobic sci-fi thriller, fairly low-budget feel, with a closed set and controlled environment.
Director Sebastián Cordero leads Sharlto Copley, Michael Nyqvist, Christian Camargo, Daniel Wu, Karolina Wydra (Pluribus, After) and Anamaria Marinca as the core six of the crew, with the (now) late Isiah Whitlock Jr. amongst the number back on earth. It's a decent little thriller that passes just over 90 minutes nicely - not terribly exciting - more, well, scientifically interesting, I guess. Worth a look.
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