Fantasia International Film Festival 2025 – Director Steve Pink is primarily associated with comedy, thanks to the smash hit Hot Tub Time Machine. To see him tackle another genre, specifically a sci-fi thriller in the case of Terrestrial, is intriguing. His latest feature is a successful foray into the genre with solid performances all around. It also has a lot to say about envy, wealth, and success.
The film stars Jermaine Fowler as Allen, a would-be sci-fi writer who faces rejection after rejection and works low-wage jobs in Los Angeles to eke out a living. He envies the super successful sci-fi writer SJ Purcell (Brendan Hunt), author of a series of novels titled The Neptune Cycle, which was also made into a television series. It can’t be understated just how good Fowler is in the leading role, especially considering how often his character’s moods ebb and flow. Like a majority of the film’s cast, Fowler’s previous roles, including in Sorry to Bother You and Coming 2 America, leaned into comedy. He still cracks a few jokes as Allen, but this role really allows Fowler to show his acting range and take on a more serious part. He deserves more leading roles.
Allen’s college friends suddenly decide to visit him in LA to see how he’s doing and catch up. The rest of the cast is rounded out by James Morosini as Ryan, Pauline Chalamet as Maddie, and Edy Modica as Vic. Initially, Allen performs a lifestyle in front of his friends that’s well beyond his means. More specifically, he squats in and occupies Purcell’s luxurious mansion. To state how that occurs would spoil too much of the movie, but Purcell has everything that Allen covets, namely massive success as a sci-fi novelist and an adoring and obsessive fan base. Because he’s living a lie, however, Allen acts erratic and short-tempered around his friends, fearing they’ll catch on to his ruse.
The concept of a member of the working-class occupying the home of the wealthy somewhat resembles the plot of Parasite, though Pink doesn’t necessarily critique capitalism here. Still, Allen is a well-drawn character who teeters on the edge of a mental collapse because he wants his friends to believe he’s successful, even though he hasn’t published a short story, let alone a novel. Allen knows the spacious rooms of Purcell’s mansion are rooms he’s not meant to occupy. It’s all a performance. Eventually, the friends do catch on.
Pink succeeds at handling an intricate plot that contains a lot of twists and turns. There’s even a point early in the film where the narrative jumps back in time, to three months earlier, showcasing how Allen ended up in Purcell’s mansion. Oh, and there’s a few scenes with aliens that have glowing orbs in the middle of their heads. Yet, somehow, that element works, too.
Like any good sci-fi film, Terrestrial anchors itself to the human condition and human emotions. The feature, with all of its plot twists, tackles issues of fame, success, and envy. Fowler also gives one heck of a performance that proves he deserves more leading roles. Pink successfully made the jump from comedy to sci-fi, crafting a strong, character-driven narrative in the process.
