Vesper Movie Review

Vesper (2022)

Rent Vesper on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Bruno Samper & Kristina Buozyte (story by), Brian Clark and Bruno Samper & Kristina Buozyte (screenplay by)
Directed by: Kristina Buozyte, Bruno Samper
Starring: Raffiella Chapman, Eddie Marsan, Rosy McEwen, Richard Brake
Rated: NR [PG-13]
Watch the trailer

Plot
Struggling to survive after the collapse of Earth's ecosystem, teenage Vesper must use her wits, strength, and bio-hacking abilities to fight for the future.

Verdict
This presents a fascinating world but doesn't try to explain much. The story is narrow, focusing on a kid in the woods. It's a bleak world, but despite that Vesper remains hopeful that the future could be better. This has a really neat production design, and while that may be the best part, the story is only competent.
It depends.

Review
This a bleak world, the new dark age as a result of bio-science to fix the world's ecological problems. Instead it made the world worse, and crops difficult to grow. Scientists and the ruling class reside in enclosed cities, citadels. We never see inside these places, but it seems they thrive while Vesper (Raffiella Chapman) and those unfortunately on the outside struggle to survive. This world is intriguing as Vesper relies on bio-technology to cultivate what little she has. Her house is dilapidated but has an advanced generator. Her father, though bedridden, accompanies her via drone.

Raffiella Chapman plays Vesper

Vesper's world is upended when a ship crashes nearby. In a world that lacks compassion and hope, Vesper is the lone exception. She decides to help crash survivor Camellia (Rosy McEwen), which we're shown is more than anyone else would do in this grim world. Camellia promises to take Vesper to the Citadel, but that sounds too good to be true. People are out to get both of them, though for different reasons.

This story is about finding kindness in an oppressive world. Vesper is that bit of hope. She's the only character willing to risk vulnerability and help others. The setting is is great, establishing just enough to make it believable while still leaving plenty of room for imagination. That helps this very typical story of rescuing someone stranded, but I wish the story did more with the setting.