‘65’ Review: Adam Driver Conquers Prehistoric Earth
65, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ long-awaited prehistoric dinosaur thriller, has finally stomped its way into theaters, bringing with it a heroic dose of Adam Driver taking up the mantle as the grumpy world-weary man who suddenly becomes the sole protector of a young child who’s survival rests on his shoulders.
The concept of man vs. dinosaur isn’t entirely revolutionary, but it isn’t as though 65 is trying to be the next Jurassic Park. In fact, the easiest comparison to 65 lays within the Pedro Pascal-starring indie film Prospect, that is slowly gaining a cult following, following Pascal’s continued success with the lone wolf and cub trope. Both films utilize practical effects to sell the sci-fi, lean into the awe of nature to craft that aesthetic, and recognize that what makes a two-person sci-fi is the human connection that can be forged between those two characters.
Image via Sony
In 65, Driver plays Mills, a pilot who takes on a 2-year transportation job to make enough money to care for his ailing daughter (Chloe Coleman). At some point during the journey, disaster strikes when his ship barrels through an unexpected meteor shower, causing the ship to crash-land on an unknown planet.
Mills survives the crash, but the cryogenically frozen human cargo on board are all killed upon impact. Well, most of them. After grappling with the gravity of the situation, both on the planet and personally, Mills finds a glimmer of hope in the sole survivor of the cargo: Koa (Ariana Greenblatt). Unfortunately, Koa doesn’t speak the same language as Mills, which poses a challenge—one of many that the unlikely duo must workaround in their race against certain death. While massive, deadly dinosaurs seem like a big enough foe to face, Mills and Koa find themselves swept up in a cataclysmic event that they can’t shoot their way out of.
Adam Driver proves, once again, that he is a man of many genres. No matter how absurd a film may be or how outlandish the cast around him is, he knows how to bring the material alive—and make the absolute most of it. With Greenblatt to play off, Driver gets to show a side of himself that is often not assigned to his characters. In 65 Driver gets to play both a father and a reluctant caregiver, one who slowly lets down his walls as Mills and Koa find solace in their matching losses. He’s tender, devoted, playful, and steadfast in his determination to put Koa’s safety before his own. That humanity is the driving force of 65 which anchors a story immersed in larger-than-life prehistoric beasts and do-or-die situations.
Image via Sony
Greenblatt, who has only had a handful of roles in her blossoming career, proves herself as a young talent that casting directors should keep their eye on. By design, Koa doesn’t have a lot to say, and when she does it doesn’t necessarily make sense to the audience. But Greenblatt doesn’t let that hold her back, she goes toe-to-toe with Driver with ease, utilizing every tool in her arsenal as an actress. Koa isn’t a damsel in distress, even when she is in distress. She’s a resourceful character who saves Mills almost as often as he saves her—and sometimes, against even steeper odds.
While sci-fi is the backbone and lifeblood of many of the franchises that society holds so dear in 2023, there seems to be a rather obtuse belief that every single piece of science fiction must be wildly contrived or glamorously overwrought. Instead of settling in with a bag of popcorn and enjoying a cozy 90-minute romp through prehistoric Earth, some audiences feel inclined to want more than a film was ever designed to be. 65 delivers on its promises—quite succinctly, in fact. As the credits roll, there are no loose threads, questions left unanswered, or plot holes to mar the enjoyment.
It’s hard to ignore the fact that 65 feels uniquely designed as an answer to the melancholia that haunted the months that followed The Rise of Skywalker. Driver, who starred as the Dark Side-tempted offspring of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) was met with a script that seemingly forgot that he is one of the most sought-after actors, capable of far more than uttering “Ow.” While there are no Knights of Ren to fight off in 65, fighting dinosaurs with a blaster a long time ago, in a galaxy… not quite so far away, brings with it a certain degree of Ben Solo déjà vu. I’ll leave it to the gif makers of Tumblr to draw the more distinct parallels when the film arrives on digital.
Image via Sony
65 is an action-packed ride that doesn’t attempt to be more than it is: a smart, taut prehistoric thriller. The sci-fi is not overplayed, and it doesn’t require its audience to think beyond the surface level, which is the hallmark of good sci-fi. With 65, Driver finds his footing once more with a family-friendly popcorn flick that delivers dino-sized thrills, impressive visual effects and action sequences, and a story brimming with heart.
