Biosphere (film)

Biosphere is a 2022 American science fiction comedy film directed by Mel Eslyn (in her feature length directorial debut) and written by Eslyn and Mark Duplass. It stars Sterling K. Brown and Duplass.

The film premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022 and was released on July 7, 2023.

Plot
After a global apocalypse that has killed almost all humans, the only survivors are childhood friends Billy (Duplass), the former president of the United States of America, and Ray (Brown), a scientist and Billy's former adviser. Billy feels responsible for causing the apocalypse, and the two live in a dome built by Ray that protects them from the outside environment. They maintain a fishpond, but become distressed when the last remaining female fish dies, leaving behind only two male fish, one of which appears to be dying. Ray stays up late one night, and discovers the possibility that the fish are undergoing sequential hermaphroditism to continue breeding, and notices a bright green light outside the dome. The next morning, Ray tells Billy about his discovery, and Billy realizes that he is also undergoing sequential hermaphroditism and is gradually developing female sex organs.

Billy is distraught over the changes to his body, and Ray is excited to study what is happening. Ray begins feeling uncomfortable around Billy after he becomes aroused when he touches Billy's breast. After the fish begin breeding, Billy reveals to Ray that he has begun to menstruate, and suggests that they try to have a child together. Ray rejects Billy, and refuses to speak to him. Ray admits to Billy that he is hesitant to procreate because he was raised with homophobic values, despite his efforts to be more progressive. Ray and Billy decide to have sex to try and impregnate Billy, initially with a sheet over Billy's body, which Ray eventually pulls off, and the two kiss. Billy becomes pregnant, and the two become much closer.

A big storm hits the dome and breaks the windows, forcing Ray and Billy to break apart the fishpond to patch the broken panes. The next morning, the two are amazed to see some aurora borealis, indicating the sky is becoming less cloudy. Ray is distraught, as their supply of food is ending with the dead fish. Billy, using a story from Ray's eighth birthday, tells Ray to keep hope.

Cast

 * Sterling K. Brown as Ray
 * Mark Duplass as Billy

Production
Biosphere was written by Mel Eslyn and Mark Duplass, who got the outline for the plot when they attended a writers' retreat in 2018. Eslyn also produced alongside Zackary Drucker, Maddie Buis and Shuli Harel, with Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass executive producers. IFC Films bought the North American rights for the film in November 2022.

Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022. It was released in theaters and on demand on July 7, 2023.

Reception
John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter described it as "post-apocalyptic survival meets … anxious buddy humour" and "a mysterious and hilarious pic". Anthony Lane of The New Yorker called it "sometimes larky in tone," but also "a frowningly intense venture that never stops being about itself." Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle stated that "at its length, Biosphere is soporific and repetitive and puts viewers in the position of always being two steps ahead of it."