Review: Sci-Fi Thriller 'Foe' Squanders a Talented Cast

Science fiction often explores facets of society via technology to make social commentary. "Foe," starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, takes a sci-fi premise in order to investigate a marriage, environmental collapse, and the essence of humanity.

"Foe" squanders the talents of its leads. Saoirse Ronan is wonderful in so many films, including "Little Women," "Brooklyn," and "Lady Bird." Paul Mescal is excellent in "Aftersun" and great in "God's Creatures." Ronan tries her best to express the restricting confines her character feels, emotionally trapped within her home despite the surrounding expanse of land. Mescal tries his best to convey the confusion and burgeoning paranoia his character feels.

"Foe" boasts a talented cast and looks visually beautiful, due to the gorgeous candle-lit interiors and golden-hour cinematography by Mátyás Erdély. But the film desperately needs sharper direction, shrewder writing, and tighter editing.

Adapted from Iain Reid's novel, Garth Davis ("Lion," "Mary Magdalene") co-wrote (along with Reid) and directed the film, which is set a few decades in the future, in a time when humans have nearly destroyed the environment. A lack of rain and failing crops spurs efforts to colonize space. Henrietta (Ronan) and Junior (Mescal) are a married couple living on a remote farm in the Midwest. An unexpected visitor's (Aaron Pierre) arrival upends their lives after he tells them Junior has been selected to go to a space station for a year, and an android who looks exactly like him will keep Henrietta company while he's away.

Unfortunately, "Foe" doesn't seem to know how to explore the nuances and difficulties in a troubled marriage. I don't feel that Henrietta and Junior are an actual couple, or that they once had a tight relationship, or that they reconnect. An awkwardness exists between them, which you could argue is the point – there's an emotional chasm between this couple. But it doesn't actually feel that way; rather, their interactions just feels stilted.

One scene in the film truly moved me: The extremely emotional climax, where the characters let out all their pain, anger, and vulnerability. If only the rest of the film was as poignant and compelling as this scene. It also contains a haunting visual element involving plastic wrap that brilliantly encapsulates the dehumanization and disposability festering in our society.

It's an intriguing premise – trying to replace a loved one with an android – that other films and series have deftly explored, such as "Black Mirror," "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence," and "Starman" (which features an alien, rather than an android, taking the form of a woman's deceased husband). Other films, such as "Her," "I'm Your Man," and "Making Mr. Right," explore a human having a romantic relationship with an android or computer. I wish "Foe" delved deeper into the characters and the issues it raises. The whole time watching, I kept thinking: I bet this is a great book.

The elements for a great film are here: A fascinating premise, excellent cast, and striking visuals. But "Foe" wastes its cast and remains fairly predictable (despite a third-act twist), maudlin, and superficial. While hints exist of what the film attempts to say about marriage, identity, and environmental disaster, I was frustrated as it lacks complexity and nuance to ultimately say anything profound. "Foe" lacks emotional resonance as it keeps us as an audience distant, never truly letting us in.

"Foe" opens in theaters on Friday, October 6, 2023.