It currently holds a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Vespers premiered at festivals in 2022 to rave reviews, but some people are now only beginning to discover one of the best sci-fi movies of recent years on Netflix
The film is set after the collapse of the Earth’s ecosystem and follows the title character, a 13-year-old girl (Raffiella Chapman), as she uses her survival skills to support her and her traveling father (Richard Brake, Barbarian) in a strange and dangerous new world.
“When Vesper finds a mysterious woman, Camellia (Rosy McEwen, The Alienist), alone and disoriented after an aerial crash, she agrees to help find her missing companion in exchange for safe passage to the Citadel – the dark central hub where oligarchs live in comfort thanks to state-of-the-art biotechnology,” the plot synopsis reads.
“Vesper soon discovers that her brutal neighbor, Jonas (Eddie Marsan, Ray Donovan), is searching for Camellia, who is harboring a secret that could change all of their lives forever.
“Forced into a dangerous adventure, Vesper must rely on her wits and bio-hacking abilities to unlock the key to an alternate future.”
Made on a reported budget of just €5 million, co-directors Kristina Buožytė and Bruno Samper – through gorgeous forest locations and well-deployed special effects – manage to conjure up an impressively haunting vision of a decaying Earth that is only barely being kept alive by technology.
The film also boasts an easy-to-root for the protagonist and an imaginative screenplay filled with fascinating details that help build out the film’s world as it puts its lead character through the wringer.
If you need more proof of the film’s merits, it currently holds a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Here’s a sample of some of those positive reviews:
IndieWire – “A dramatically uneven but imaginatively vivid feat of post-apocalyptic world-building that flips the script on so many other stories like it.”
Inverse – “Vesper is a compelling cautionary tale about our precious ecosystem where the eye-pleasing scenery isn’t gorgeous for its pristine looks, but tragically beautiful in its rotting textures.”
Polygons – “For a small indie sci-fi movie, the special effects are stunning, and the world is incredibly well-realised.”
RogerEbert.com – “Vesper commands viewers’ attention because of its exceptionally well-realized costumes, sound, and production design, as well as some well-utilized, Cronenberg-icky creatures and special effects.”
Also, here’s what some Netflix viewers have said about the sci-fi:
I recently watched ‘Vesper’ on Netflix and I’m obsessed with the costumes and aesthetic design. The style and atmosphere of the film was really special. Fingers crossed there’s a second movie on the horizon! pic.twitter.com/1tZTP6gu4k
— Ryan Laughton (@RyRyLaughton) January 24, 2023
So I’m watching interesting looking Sci-fi on Netflix called Vesper from 2022. The super reductive and not at all helpful or correct explanation is children of men meets Half Life 2 and a healthy bit of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and blade runner 2049. Its good pic.twitter.com/MLR30sXybL
— Des Walsh (@PikminMan) November 12, 2023
New to Netflix, 2022’s #Vespers…a rather good dystopian sci-fi. For a small indie sci-fi movie, the special effects are surprisingly good, and the world is great to look at. It’s a pretty good movie! Check it out. pic.twitter.com/2DjcOggk2z
— George Clark (@GeorgeAlexClark) January 23, 2023
Further to an excellent response @mayhem_festivalthe enthralling #VESPER is now available on Netflix UK. This is an enjoyable dystopian, sci-fi drama and well worth a look pic.twitter.com/aYInLqjzZn
— Lord Arse Biscuits 〓〓 (@lordRsBiscuits) January 22, 2023
Vespers is available to watch on Netflix in Ireland and the UK right now.
Meanwhile, those in Canada and the US can check out the film on AMC+ and Shudder while those in Australia can stream it on Paramount+ and Prime Video.
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