Impressive science fiction thriller, previously underrated, left a profound impact - now available for streaming on Hulu
In the year 2024, the low-budget science fiction thriller "The Assessment" graces the screens of Hulu viewers, offering a gripping portrayal of a near-future dystopian world. The film, directed by Fleur Fortuneé, presents a chilling vision of a society enclosed within a domed structure to protect itself from the perils of the "Old World," which suggests an apocalyptic event possibly related to climate change.
The story revolves around Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel), a scientifically-minded couple living in isolation outside the domes. They have passed a rigorous selection process and are now subjected to a week-long psychological assessment by a government official named Virginia (Alicia Vikander). The narrative unfolds as Virginia moves into their home, evaluating their suitability to raise a child.
Throughout the week, Virginia employs psychological manipulation, cold observation, and even adopts childlike behaviours to test the couple's responses and the stability of their relationship. The film delves into the pressures of this brutal reproductive control, revealing cracks in Mia and Aaryan's marriage and questioning their readiness for parenthood amid a bleak future where natural life has become deeply endangered.
The society portrayed in the movie is a twisted dystopia, with everyone using a drug called Senoxidine to stop the aging process and live forever. This aspect of the world-building adds a layer of intrigue, hinting at the depth and complexity of the civilization hidden beneath the surface, with enough material for multiple movies.
Mia and Aaryan live in a remote house on a rocky beach. Aaryan develops virtual pets, while Mia researches ways to restore plant life. The visuals are minimal, with most scenes filmed in a few concrete rooms and the desolate beach. Olsen and Patel deliver strong performances, establishing their loving but brittle relationship.
One of the film's most intriguing aspects is the character of Minnie Driver, who plays a minor character who reveals herself to be 150 years old. This detail underscores the consequences of the Senoxidine drug and the lengths to which society has gone to cheat death.
"The Assessment" delivers a thought-provoking ending with several big twists, offering viewers food for thought about the cost of immortality, societal control, and existential uncertainty in a dwindling world. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with sci-fi themes, this is a must-watch on Hulu.
In the movie "The Assessment," the environmental-science-focused couple Mia and Aaryan are subjected to a week-long psychological assessment in a dystopian society, where climate-change-induced apocalyptic events have led to the creation of a domed structure to protect the society. Despite the entertainment provided by movies-and-tv, the film urgently addresses the pressing issues of societal control, immortality, and climate change in the realm of environmental-science.
