Helios, a Visually Stunning Story with the Drama to Match By Joseph Reilly February 2017 Helio is the story detailing one man's journey to escape the perils of his own civilization that has fallen victim to tyrant officials post the apocalypse. It's a 2015 science fiction film directed by Teddy Cecil that has a dark overtone filled in a place that resembles Batman's Gotham City on its worst day. The viewers of Helio know right off that bat that there's no hope for this civilization while also giving them a handful of the same hope through its protagonist. This film does everything right, from moments of psychopathic coldness to emotional fear from the characters. It's the details that make this story what it is. For a short film, looking away will cost you. …show more content…
For example, the film starts off with a sign that reads "70,476 DAYS OF SHELTER SINCE THE FINAL WAR", a nod to how the film got to where it is today. Its little subtleties like this one that show off a back story without exposition, and it's done well. The only thing that Helio over utilizes at times are the scenes where the protagonist is hanging on for his life – literally. A couple times too many and the viewer might feel a redundancy. But, the special effects may make up for this. With just enough to let the viewer know that this is a science fiction film, with guns that shoot blue illuminated bullets to shoes which make you fly, the special effects are not done in a heavy-handed way. There are just enough of them to keep the viewer's nerves rattled with action to satisfy the minimal dialogue. The effects don't scream high or low budget either, which helps to suspend disbelief where the details are not easily