In Lionsgate’s film, the audience is taken to New World, a planet set in the future of 2257 A.D. Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland), a name you will likely not forget, is a young man on this Earth-like planet, living in a small settlement comprising only men. The patriarchy structure is not the strangest element, though—on this planet, every man is affected by “The Noise,” a force that projects thoughts aloud.
After growing accustom to the small community, the audience watches Viola (Daisy Ridley) crash-land in a scout spaceship on New World. Stranded and alone, Viola must find a way to contact her ship; however, not everyone wants Viola to return. Viola incidentally meets Todd, and the film’s action is set in motion as we follow Viola and Todd on their perilous journey to reunite Viola with her crew.
Tom Holland (Spiderman: Far From Home, Cherry) and Daisy Ridley (Star Wars, Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker; Ophelia) are newcomers and rising stars in the film industry. Both actors perform well together. “The Noise” in Chaos Walking detracted from Tom Holland's nonverbal acting elements, but his scenes with Ridley were relatively seamless. Mads Mikkelsen’s acting (Doctor Strange, Artic) was notable, though his villain role was generally one-dimensional and underdeveloped.
Recently, several sci-fi novels have been receiving the movie adaptation treatment (Ready Player One, Artemis Fowl, and Dune, to name a few). In a movie industry inundated with sci-fi films, what sets Chaos Walking, based on the book The Knife of Never Letting Go, apart? “The Noise,” is the unique element that keeps it from being just another futuristic space exploration film. The director, Doug Liman, does well by not over-explaining it and letting the audience discover how it works. However, its novelty quickly wanes and it does little to advance the character development or plot.
Ultimately, the film does not shatter expectations. The ending feels rushed and is somewhat predictable. There are several plot elements that are either unexplained or left unresolved. While there are some moments of character building, the audience is left unsatisfied and wanting more from the two lead characters Todd and Viola. At best, the film is a strong optional purchase.