I love space movies. Space freaks me out yet I absolutely love it so, naturally, horror movies that take place in space are right in my wheelhouse. Decommissioned is a phenomenal display that confirms my suspicions space is just as creepy as it is awe-inspiring. This film is 6 minutes of ‘wow’ and it reminds me why I never became an astronaut.

Decommissioned is based on a very real event. In February 2006 a decommissioned Russian Orian spacesuit with a HAM radio transmitter mounted on the helmet was launched into Earth’s orbit as a satellite. The eerie image evokes a feeling of an astronaut lost in space and is the perfect imagery for the inspiration for Josh Tanner’s film. 

The CGI and VSX in Decommissioned is (inter)stellar. The quality seen in this film is usually that expected of big-budget features. Director Josh Tanner has proven with Decommissioned (and with his previous works), that creativity is more important than a big budget when it comes to making a film visually impressive. Along with the CGI, the cinematography was smooth and enhanced the feeling of floating in space. Several shots feature reflections in Commander Diaz’s camera, giving the scene a delicate ethereal feeling, almost as though you are viewing this beautiful yet spectral setting. 

Joey Vieira flies solo on camera in this short film and commanded the screen as Commander Diaz. He is convincing, engaging, and a true delight to watch. Along with a solid acting performance, the sound design featured in Decommissioned outstanding. Scratchy radio signals, ghostly space-like tones, and a haunting score truly take the film to the next level. 

Decommissioned was wonderfully original and with some fleshing out, writing duo Josh Tanner and Jade Van Der Lei could turn this into a really great feature film. It is a little truth, a little fantasy, and a whole lot of fun. I can’t wait to see what project Josh Tanner has planned next. 

Check out Decommissioned free of charge at the link below!

9 out of 10