Settlers (TRUSTED — 2026)

Settlers is a slow-burning, often gorgeous film that attempts to graft the tropes of a classic Western—isolation, land disputes, and violent survival—onto a desolate Mars landscape. While it succeeds in creating a palpable sense of dread and claustrophobia, it unfortunately forgets to build a compelling narrative, leaving the audience with an atmosphere that is, at times, as dry and empty as its setting.

Title: Audacious Sci-Fi Western Struggles Under Its Own Weight settlers

A surprisingly endearing, functional-looking, Wall-E-style robot that provides some of the best, most quiet moments of connection. The Bad: Settlers is a slow-burning, often gorgeous film that

Based on the 2021 sci-fi film Settlers (directed by Wyatt Rockefeller), this review reflects a tense, atmospheric, yet uneven cinematic experience. The Bad: Based on the 2021 sci-fi film

The middle section of the film sags significantly, relying more on moody silence than plot development.

The film builds toward a climax that feels anticlimactic and abrupt, offering little in the way of payoff.

The film is visually stunning, making brilliant use of its low budget to create a truly believable, dusty, and lonely Mars.