Imagine getting convicted of a crime and sentenced to... life on another planet. And they don't call this new film's planet-in-question "silent" for nothing. Picture a prison sentence of solitary confinement taken to its logical extreme on a planet far, far away. Not that this story has any sort of ties to the ever-evolving Star Wars universe, though sci-fi die-hards might eat up the similarly delicious backdrops captured on location in Canada by writer-director Jeffrey St. Jules (Bang Bang Baby). As he recently told MovieWeb, the substance behind The Silent Planet extends far beyond the picturesque science-fiction nature and crime-mystery edge of the intricate plot he concocted.

The end result is a dreamy, reflective, and thought-provoking feature about coming to terms with our past, coping with never-ending guilt and such other relatable themes. The cerebral feel of the film draws you right in, with the added bonus of two solid performances portraying the dueling protagonists. The Silent Planet offers a unique shift of gears in the sci-fi realm, doing away with the expected shoot-em-up action sequences and quieting things down for an insightful, at times perplexing thriller instead. Brace yourself for a slow-burn impact that's fascinating to watch, right up to a somewhat underwhelming ending.