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As the Fantasia International Film Festival comes to a close, it’s time to discuss another world premiere film, New Life. The feature-film debut for writer and director John Rosman, New Life tells the story of two women; one who is on the run for unknown reasons, and the other sent to track her down at all cost. As their paths collide, these women will not only have to face their own fates, but also what could possibly be the fate of the world.

New Life immediately throws the audience into the thick of the story as a woman named Jessica appears to be on the run with blood all over her face. From there, the film follows her as she flees unknown assailants, using her knowledge of the wilderness to hike through the most remote areas until she can reach the Canadian border. Starting the film this way allows for instant tension. From there, the tension and suspense ebbs and flows with the story. The audience is mostly left in the dark because Jessica doesn’t fully understand why she’s in her current situation. When the “fixer” Elsa is sent to track Jessica down, the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. Much like Jessica, Elsa doesn’t know the full story. Between the information Elsa collects and a series of flashbacks featuring Jessica, the truth is revealed. That truth is something so horrifying and deadly that it could threaten life as we know it.

While New Life definitely has a lot of suspense, it’s not your typical fugitive versus pursuer type of film with non-stop thrills. Instead, the mystery is what allows for the building of tension, ultimately leading to the big reveal of why Jessica is being chased. At the same time, there is a strong emotional core to the story. The audience watches Jessica and Elsa, two women on very different paths in life who are on a collision course for reasons they don’t even comprehend at first. Despite their differences, their two journeys are both those of women with death sentences, whether they realize it or not, and New Life is very much about the contrasting ways Jessica and Elsa react to that death sentence. It leads to a final confrontation that is both intense and heartbreaking. Yet, there is one thing that somewhat takes away from the impact of those final moments. Without giving away too many details, there is a viral element to the film as well that heightens the suspense, but it also leaves a lot of unanswered questions by the time the film ends. The film would have benefited from expanding on this aspect of the plot, but Jessica and Elsa’s stories are still compelling to watch.

Both leads in New Life deliver fantastic performances that add much emotional weight to the film. Hayley Erin (General Hospital, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists) stars as Jessica. Erin portrays Jessica in a way that makes her seem kind and endearing, while also being capable of survival, even in the toughest situations. Throughout the film it’s easy to empathize with this character. Erin shines in the climax of the film as Jessica is faced with the unintended consequences of her actions. Sonya Walger (Anon, Lost) plays the “fixer,” Elsa. In this line of work, Elsa has to be tough and always on guard, giving her a hardened demeanor. Where Walger really shines is in Elsa’s more vulnerable moments, especially as she struggles to come to terms with a recent diagnosis and how it will impact every aspect of her life. The juxtaposition of these two characters really highlights how similar their journeys are, even as they meet very different ends.

Even with New Life being a fairly bare-bones thriller, it still incorporates striking imagery and effects. Much of the film shows Jessica in the wilderness. In these scenes not only are the locations beautiful, but the cinematography brings striking images to the big screen. One particularly memorable shot at the climax of the film is so gorgeous, both because of the events taking place as well as the cinematography, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on audiences. New Life also features some surprising practical effects. Most of these are makeup effects to show characters afflicted with the aforementioned virus. These looks are truly disturbing and very well done, injecting a bit more horror into this thriller.

New Life is a haunting thriller telling two colliding stories of survival in the face of the most dire circumstances. It’s a strong debut for Rosman, showing that he can effectively bring to life a plot that has as much suspense as it does emotional depth. While certain aspects of the plot could have done with further development to answer some of the lingering questions, the film is still a compelling watch. The performances from Erin and Walger are definitely the highlights of New Life, with stunning visuals to add to the overall appeal. While the film might end up polarizing audiences once it gets a wide release, New Life is guaranteed to be a conversation-starter.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10