Exterritorial – A Movie That Tried Too Hard and Still Fell Flat

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Sometimes a movie comes along that feels like it wants to be everything all at once, thrilling, emotional, action packed, and mysterious but in the end, it just ends up being a whole lot of nothing. That’s Exterritorial in a nutshell streaming on Netflix. The idea behind it had potential, I’ll give it that. There’s the whole “government cover up” angle, a hint of sci-fi intrigue, and a female lead who’s clearly meant to be a badass. But all of that gets drowned in poor execution, cliche storytelling, and a serious lack of character depth.

A Predictable Plot Dressed Up as a Conspiracy Thriller

The plot leans heavily into the worn out “secret government experiment” trope. At first, it teases an intriguing mystery, hinting at hidden truths and deeper layers. But those twists and turns the movie promises ? They never really come 😪. Or worse, they do, but they feel like fake outs forced red herrings that lead to dead ends.

Instead of giving us a satisfying “aha!” moment, the film plays it safe and dull. By the end, I felt like I’d just watched a stretched out episode of a forgettable TV drama, not a full length feature deserving of so much attention.

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Acting That’s Decent, But Let Down by the Script

To be fair, the acting wasn’t terrible. The cast did their job with what they had, and some performances were even believable. But the real issue lies in the writing. The script simply didn’t give these actors enough to work with. The emotional connection between Sara and Irena, which is supposed to anchor the story, is barely developed. We’re told there’s a bond, but we never really see it unfold onscreen.

By the time the film tries to deliver an emotional payoff which is Sara flying with her son to see Irena, it feels hollow. There’s no real buildup, no heartfelt moments between them to make us root for their reunion. The emotion is all surface level, and unfortunately, it doesn’t stick.

More Like a TV Episode Than a Movie

In fact, that might be the best way to describe Exterritorial. It feels like one filler episode of a larger, more interesting series. If it were part of a season long arc, maybe it’s lack of depth would be forgivable. But as a standalone movie that expects viewers to stay invested for nearly two hours, it simply doesn’t hold up.

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Action Scenes That Are More Silly Than Spectacular

Now let’s talk about the action because Exterritorial clearly wants to be seen as a slick, adrenaline fuelled thriller. But it falls short here too. Sara, our lead, is shown taking down trained fighters with ease throughout the film. Cool, right? Except the fight choreography feels clunky, repetitive, and wildly unrealistic.

Worse still, the final fight with the main antagonist an older man who barely looks physically capable completely undermines the character’s earlier abilities. Suddenly, she’s struggling, losing ground, and making tactical errors that make no sense. It’s frustrating, and it ruins the credibility of everything that came before.

Pacing That Drains All the Energy Out

Exterritorial suffers from serious pacing issues. It starts slow, stays slow, and then tries to ramp up in the final act by which time most viewers have probably checked out. So much of the film is spent in vague conversations, secretive glances, and moody silence. There’s no real tension, no urgency.

The plot moves forward in small, unexciting steps, making it feel like a slog to get through. You keep waiting for a turning point, some meaningful development to make it worth the wait, but it just never comes.

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Confused Tone and Genre Identity Crisis

Another big problem with the movie is that it can’t seem to decide what it wants to be. Is it a grounded emotional drama ? A high stakes action film ? A government conspiracy thriller with sci-fi elements ? It tries to be all of them, and as a result, ends up being none of them convincingly.

This lack of focus creates a messy viewing experience. At no point did I feel genuinely invested in what was happening, because I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel in the first place.

Flat Dialogue That Fails to Connect

The dialogue in Exterritorial is another weak link. Characters often speak in vague metaphors and dramatic lines that are meant to sound deep but end up sounding empty. There’s a lot of talking, but very little is actually said. No revelations, no emotional insights just filler conversations meant to pad the runtime.

Good dialogue is what makes characters feel real and relatable. Unfortunately, this film delivers lines that sound like they were pulled from a generic script generator.

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The Ending: Too Little, Too Late

After dragging its feet for most of the runtime, Exterritorial tries to wrap everything up in a way that’s supposed to feel emotional and redemptive. But without proper character development or narrative payoff, the ending just doesn’t land.

Sara’s final decision to travel with her son and reconnect with Irena should’ve been powerful. Instead, it feels like an afterthought. Something the writers threw in to give the story a sense of closure, even though nothing meaningful actually led up to it.

Final Verdict: Not Worth the Spotlight

Would I recommend Exterritorial ? Honestly, no. If you’re a fan of intelligent thrillers, emotional stories, or even just well choreographed action scenes, this movie will leave you disappointed. It has all the ingredients for a good story, but none of them are used properly.

There are far better films out there that explore similar themes with far more skill and depth. Exterritorial had a chance to be something fresh and impactful, but instead, it’s just another forgettable title that tried too hard and still missed the mark.