REVIEW: Simplicity Is At Its Finest In ‘Biosphere’

Directed by Mel Eslyn and written by Eslyn and Mark Duplass, Biosphere is simple, propelled by its only two actors, Duplass and Sterling K. Brown. The duo are the last two men on Earth. That alone ramps up the tension as time ticks on, and the monotony of survival begins to grate against how they see each other. With little moments of friendship, the film offers a look at its strength and how that changes when you’re the last two people on earth.

In Biosphere, Billy (Duplass) and Ray (Brown) are lifelong best friends who are also the last two men on earth. Ray is a brilliant scientist, and Billy is a former President. Their survival is largely due to Ray, a brilliant scientist who designed a domed structure with all the systems necessary to sustain life on a planet that could no longer support it. Their custom biosphere is outfitted with basic necessities and creature comforts that make it possible to retain a sense of what life used to be like. A hydroponic garden provides fresh vegetables and a carefully managed fishpond supplies essential protein. Recently, however, fish have begun dying at an alarming rate. With a mere three fish remaining, Billy and Ray face an ominous future until life finds a way.

There is absurdity at the core of Biosphere that is played with the utmost seriousness, as it would be if two people were actually going through the situation. It’s hard to detail the core conflict of the film without spoiling the key part of the narrative that surprises the viewer. But in its out-of-this-world premise, the audience sees Ray and Billy navigate an increasingly complicated relationship. For Billy, he has to address how his body is changing and who he is in light of his transformation. For Ray, he has to confront internal bigotry that stems from generational trauma.

Biosphere is a tremendous film that pushes its tension and drama by making the audience feel like they are watching a friendship that has really lasted for decades. The two end up in a situation that causes them to reshape their boundaries and expectations of each other. Both actors bring depth to their roles. They allow themselves to become deeply vulnerable, and understand the importance of intimacy, existing in little acts of caring shown towards one another. And as their communication and openness grow so does their ability to grab the audience. They care deeply about each other, and as the film goes on, so do we.

The simplicity of Biosphere is its greatest strength. At moments, it seems like it will give you answers for how these two became the last men on earth but it pulls back every time, allowing the audience to fill in the gaps or ignore it entirely. The end of the world isn’t nearly as important as Billy and Ray’s survival or the new forms their relationship takes. The choice to limit the knowledge of the event, the green light in the distance, or any of the past decisions that led to the apocalypse, is spectacular.

Great drama, great sci-fi, and heartfelt in ways that I didn’t expect, Biosphere is moving in its take on gender and relationships. The film is the best showing for two actors who have tremendous filmographies and their dynamic together is the best relationship I’ve ever seen on screen. It captures their closeness, their strength together, and how they get under each other’s skin in equal measure. I care about Ray and Billy, and I care about the future they’re going to rebuild together.

Biosphere is playing in select theaters nationwide and available on VOD.