Taking place in the year 2030, The Humanity Bureau depicts our world as a very dysfunctional place. Resources have been drained drastically, and environmental problems resulting from global warming must be dealt with daily. Anyone deemed unproductive or weak is sent to a place called New Eden, where they are promised comfortable surroundings for the rest of their lives. A special government agency, The Humanity Bureau, oversees this process.

Agents find the New Eden candidates, interview them, and recommend who should be taken to their new home. Nicolas Cage plays Noah, one of these agents who tries to be fair about the evaluations. However, he rebels when one woman (Sarah Lind) and a young boy (Jakob Davies) are selected for New Eden against their wishes and his recommendation.  His uncertainty about the mysterious new community also makes him worry about what really happens there.

Noah decides to help the woman and boy by taking them as far away as possible. And that means keeping ahead of the Bureau’s enforcer (Hugh Dillon), who is relentless in his efforts to catch them. This road trip becomes a very dangerous one indeed. Car chases and shoot outs ensue.   

Not productive? Eden awaits.

You must go there. Close other fates.

What if New Eden is a bad place?

Then run -- and do it with great haste.

A bureau called Humanity

will chase you down without pity.

This film about our future days

tries to raise fear in many ways.

Sadly, the whole thing seems unreal.

That’s why it fails to make us feel.

Nicolas Cage not at his best.

His acting? It deserves a rest.

Don’t chastise Cage. His work will last.

He’s earned our praise in movies past.

But his part here makes less demands --

simply running through ravished lands.

This film’s world is woefully bleak

and difficult -- not for the weak.

Escape might be the way to go.

The agent has to try, you know.

New sci-fi thrillers just need more.

First, a plot written not to bore.

“Bleak future films” are done too much.

Why not use a creative touch?

Speaking of Cage’s work, The Humanity Bureau is his third film this year. Mandy was released on January 19, and Looking Glass on February 16. Plus, IMDb lists three additional movies scheduled for 2018. A vacation might do this talented actor some good. Granted, fans like me might miss him. On second thought, how will we miss him if he doesn’t go away for a bit?

(Released by Minds Eye International and rated “R” for violence.)

For more information about The Humanity Bureau, go to the IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes website.