★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

Written and Directed by Luis Tinoco

“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” – Arthur C. Clark

Alexandra (Andrea Trepat) is a radio astronomer working the late night shift at Iber SETI, the Spanish branch of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence research institute. Alone in the facility on the night of a superstorm, she receives a signal from the Antares star system that she is sure is proof of life in another galaxy. On that same night, her father lays dying in a hospital, the roads and bridges are flooded out from the storm and she’s losing time with the satellite to verify the communication. Alexandra is forced to confront her family, her colleagues and her boss to prove what she’s known in her soul all along- that we are not alone. But will her dedication to her research alienate her from everyone she loves and cause her to end up alone on earth?

The Antares Paradox is a one woman show set in one confined location; limitations that require real talent but Andrea Trepat proves worthy of the challenge. She engages the audience from the moment she appears on screen and doesn’t let go until her last powerful and emotional monologue. Being able to keep the audience on the edge of their seat in a film with such strict confines is a testament to the talent of Tinoco– hard to believe this is his first feature film! Fans of films like Contact, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and more recently, The Vast of Night will not want to miss this film.

The Antares Paradox just had its World Premier at Fantastic Fest. The Scariest Things will keep you updated on when and where you can see this sci-fi gem for yourself.