If you are looking for a sci-fi film that trades massive space battles for claustrophobic tension, shifting identities, and the terrifying barriers of language, Orion needs to be on your radar.
I recently sat down with star and producer Drew Van Acker—fresh off his Best Actor win at FilmQuest—and acclaimed director Jaco Bouwer (Gaia) to dive deep into the making of their new psychological sci-fi thriller. We discussed how they crafted a cerebral experience that feels closer to a tense stage play than a traditional space opera, relying on sharp dialogue, confined spaces, and a heavy atmosphere.
Orion
- Director: Jaco Bouwer
- Starring: Drew Van Acker, Andrew McCarthy, Debby Ryan, Theodora Miranne, Daniel Bisla, Karin Ann, Natalia Lesz, Vayda Cronin
- Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
- Runtime: 96 mins
What We Discuss in the Interview:
- Ditching the “Pew-Pew” Tropes: Why Drew specifically sought Jaco out after seeing Gaia to tackle a story rooted in memory and trauma rather than action spectacle.
- The Alien Language: How Jaco’s upbringing in South Africa—surrounded by 12 official languages—inspired the film’s unique approach to communication, misunderstanding, and an alien “language without words.”
- The Interrogation Dynamic: How Drew approached the mental tightrope of playing an amnesiac astronaut opposite Andrew McCarthy’s enigmatic space agency interrogator.
- Home Cinema & Physical Media: How Jaco mixed the film’s soundscape and visuals to maximize the claustrophobia for high-end home theatre setups, plus what special features the duo hopes to include if Orion gets a premium 4K Ultra HD or boutique label Blu-ray release.
About ORION: After a catastrophic mission leaves his crew dead and his memory shattered, an astronaut returns to Earth with no idea what went wrong. To uncover the truth, he must rely on a space agency interrogator he isn’t sure he can trust. As his fractured memories begin to return, the two race to piece together what happened, uncovering the terrifying truth about what came back with him—and the threat it now poses to Earth.
Orion also stars Andrew McCarthy and Debby Ryan.
Let me know in the comments what your favourite psychological sci-fi film is, and if you are hoping to see Orion hit the boutique physical media market down the line. Make sure to subscribe to the Eye Crave Movies YouTube channel for more exclusive interviews and 4K UHD reviews.
