I.S.S.

I.S.S. starts with a genuinely compelling premise. The idea of American and Russian astronauts aboard the International Space Station receiving conflicting orders after war breaks out on Earth creates immediate tension without relying on aliens, monsters, or elaborate science-fiction concepts. It's the kind of setup that naturally raises questions about loyalty, trust, and survival.

Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite makes effective use of the station's confined environment. The isolation, limited escape options, and constant view of a planet descending into conflict create a persistent sense of unease. Ariana DeBose delivers a solid lead performance, while Chris Messina helps ground the escalating tension.

Unfortunately, the film never fully capitalizes on its strongest ideas. What begins as a potentially fascinating geopolitical thriller gradually settles into a more conventional suspense story. There is room to explore the ethical and political implications more deeply, and several major conflicts depend on decisions that feel difficult to reconcile with how highly trained astronauts and scientists would likely behave. While the premise is strong, the execution ultimately feels far less ambitious than the setup promises.