TIFF 2022: Biosphere Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

There are just films that are best going into without knowing anything in order to better get the full experience. Biosphere is the latest such film. While it is one that’s hard to talk about without giving too much away, one thing for sure is that it’s a wild ride. This sci-film drama is essentially a two-person character study and a roller coaster of emotions which ultimately works thanks to the two performances at its center from Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass who also co-wrote the film. A very barebones film, it only adds to its grounded nature though on the other side of that, it also has nowhere to hide. Depending on Brown and Duplass, they are where the film will live or die but to their credit, they each deliver great performances over the course of what was a surprisingly complex story where they were more than capable of the challenge of their character arcs.

Biosphere is centered around Ray (Brown) and Billy (Duplass) in the near future where the presumably last two men on Earth must learn to work together in order to adapt and survive in a biosphere which protects them from outside. At this point, they’ve been there for a long time as the system they had set up for themselves seemed to be working or at least until the two hit some friction as cracks began to form within that system. Forced to adapt, their new circumstances would put Ray and Billy’s relationship to the test. Meanwhile, the film gets surprisingly deep and also hilarious as it approaches such themes as philosophy, gender dynamics, and pop culture as they figure themselves and each other out in the midst of change. Without giving anything away, it does take some drastic turns. While some may find the film drags in those middle stages, Ray and Billy are still a blast to watch together thanks to some sharp dialog and production design as the biosphere becomes another character in the story. Highlighting the current state of their relationship, it could feel open and also isolating at times as it does a great job at immersing audiences into the biosphere to make them feel like they are there with Ray and Billy.

In the end, Biosphere works because of the performances and strong chemistry of Brown and Duplass who appear in every scene. Their dynamic through their many ups and downs was an absolute blast to watch as they got to show off each of their ranges. Brown’s Ray was the brains behind the operation while Duplass’ Billy was the glue as the two complemented each other beautifully. There could have been more but they certainly made the best out of what they had.

For those looking for something fun and different, Biosphere may be up their alley but again, go in blind.

*still courtesy of TIFF

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.