“Scavengers Reign” takes you to the planet Vesta, where you’ll meet some incredibly bizarre extraterrestrial creatures. These include lamprey-like blobs that serve as makeshift breathing masks, horse-like creatures with inflatable throat pouches, spiky fruits that also work as electrical cables, and a rhino-like creature with bioluminescent sacs in its digestive tract that double as torches (though retrieving them isn’t easy).
Surprisingly, it’s not these creatures that are the real aliens in this story; it’s us, the humans. This animated series, with its first three out of twelve episodes now available on Max, tells a captivating and hypnotic tale of human survival on a planet that truly feels alien, unlike most sci-fi settings.
This series is an expansion of “Scavengers,” a short film by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner. In the original film, two stranded space travelers silently adapt to the strange local life-forms as part of an inventive survival strategy in their isolation.
In the extended version of the story, created by Bennett and Huettner, they’ve added more details, characters, and a background narrative. It follows several survivors who have crash-landed on the strange planet. Azi (played by Wunmi Mosaku) is focused on farming, with the help of Levi (played by Alia Shawkat), a robot with some quirky issues. Sam (played by Bob Stephenson), who is often in a bad mood, is working on a plan to rescue the survivors, alongside Ursula (played by Sunita Mani), a colleague who finds beauty in the challenging environment. Meanwhile, Kamen (played by Ted Travelstead) is stranded alone and grappling with guilt for his role in the accident that brought them to this planet.
Even though life for the survivors on this strange planet is a terrifying ordeal, it’s undeniably stunning. The lush backgrounds remind you of Studio Ghibli films, and the ever-changing, bizarre life forms give it a “Lost in Space” vibe, especially if it were reimagined by David Cronenberg.
However, unlike recent sci-fi series like “Foundation” and “Raised by Wolves,” “Scavengers Reign” doesn’t dive into extensive lore or mythology. It’s more of a classic struggle of man, woman, and robot against the forces of nature, full of clever problem-solving, slimy substances, and occasional gore (note that this show is definitely intended for adults due to its language and occasional graphic content).
The series leans more towards being captivating than outright scary. It explores the characters’ feelings of isolation, fear, and regret, and it has a touch of psychedelic spirituality in its portrayal of the surreal ecosystem.
On this planet, the lines between plant and animal life are blurred, or maybe they don’t apply at all. The world is both frightening and violent but, in its own way, harmonious. Bennett and Huettner have created a remarkably balanced ecosystem. Some creatures produce poison, while others consume it. What appears as constant danger to the stranded survivors is just the natural cycle of life on Vesta.
Ultimately, we may root for the humans, but they are the intruders here. “Scavengers Reign” envisions a future where humanity treats the universe, much like it did Earth, as a source of resources to be exploited. The castaways, as we come to understand, were part of a corporate fleet that crashed on the planet because they took a dangerous shortcut in the pursuit of greater profits. The characters who adapt to this strange new world, synchronize with it, or even become a part of it, seem to fare the best.
Certainly, there can be too much mutual cooperation in nature. For instance, a silent and seemingly unemotional creature resembling a frog or newt has a knack for mesmerizing other animals, compelling them to bring it food (imagine something like the Hypnotoad from “Futurama,” but spookier). This creature eventually ensnares Kamen into its service, devouring the offerings he brings until it becomes enormous and insatiable. However, even this formidable beast is merely following its natural instincts. It’s the introduction of a human into its ecosystem that turns it into a monster.
As “Scavengers Reign” transitions from a short film to a series, it becomes less contemplative and more of a thrilling survival adventure, although it does slow down a bit in its second half. But the real allure of the show lies not so much in its storyline as it does in the captivating visuals and imaginative biological creations. For example, there are reed-like stalks that produce musical sounds when touched and then shoot out spikes. “Scavengers Reign” is somewhat like those plants – it creates a mesmerizing melody, but it can also deliver a sting.
Source: NYTimes
