Stewart, Rastislav and Ken are back to decipher the conspiracy of Vivarium, a 2019 release from Fantastic Films and Screen Ireland. Stewart and Ken watched it on Shudder, where at the time of review it was the number one film on the service. The screenplay is by Garret Shanley and Lorcan Finnegan, and Finnegan also directed.
The story follows young couple Tom and Gemma, a handyman/landscaper and teacher respectively, looking to purchase their first home together in an unnamed town (possibly in Ireland, where filming took place). They meet an eccentric sales agent named Martin who bids them to follow him to the new development called Yonder, where he promises to show them the first and last home they’ll ever own. No sooner has he shown them around, then he vanishes; Tom and Gemma grow frustrated and decide to leave and try again another day. However, what at first seems to be a confusing neighbourhood layout is revealed to be a strange landscape that will not allow them to leave, no matter which way they turn. They eventually run out of gas and decide to stay in the house overnight. Soon, they begin receiving packages of food and other necessities from out of thin air; one package contains an infant boy, who grows at an accelerated pace and gradually takes on the role of their son. Tom literally throws himself into a hole as he tries to dig an escape tunnel in their front yard; he and Gemma grow distant as their new “son” grows into a strange adolescent. More time passes and their son becomes a sinister adult; Tom and Gemma have now realized how trapped they truly are, and receive hints that they aren’t the only couple subjected to this experiment.
Stewart, Rastislav and Ken all agree that actors Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots as the couple have good chemistry and do their best with the material. They also liked aspects of the production design, visual effects and music. However, they were underwhelmed with the story, and felt that the passive attitudes of the main characters made it difficult to be invested in their fate. There are only vague hints given as to who is pulling the strings in the vivarium, and what these entities hope to learn in order to possibly conquer humanity.
Written by Garret Shanley and Lorcan Finnegan, and directed by Lorcan Finnegan. Starring Jesse Eisenberg as Tom, Imogen Poots as Gemma, Jonathan Aris as Martin, Senan Jennings as Young Boy, and Eanna Hardwicke as Older Boy. Rated R by the MPA for language and some sexuality/nudity. Runtime is one hour and 37 minutes.
