In Decaying Orbit, five survivors are faced with a ruined space station, a deadly virus, a damaged escape shuttle, and the possibility that one among them is a traitor. No wonder things get extremely tense!  Although sci-fi is not one of my favorite film genres, this suspenseful independent movie held my interest throughout. I was impressed by its snazzy special effects, intriguing mystery, and talented actors.    

Tim Pyle makes his feature directing debut with Decaying Orbit -- and his previous credits stand him in good stead for this kind of film.  He’s been involved in many Hollywood projects including the Emmy-winning Children of Dune, Academy Award-nominated Jimmy Neutron, and Emmy-nominated Starship Troopers: the Series.  He also received two Aegis Awards, a CINE Golden Eagle Award, a Telly Award, and a 2006 NASA Award for producing CG animation.

Decaying Orbit may be a low-budget film, but it shows what can be done by a dedicated cast and crew. Performances are excellent, especially by Denise Gossett and Osa Wallender, who portray very strong women with completely opposite personalities. Gossett is Kate, a power-hungry crew member with a suspicious past; Wallender portrays Winnie, a sensitive and sweet-faced researcher who’s more complicated than we originally suspect. These two actresses remind me Glenn Close and Annette Bening, so when their characters square off -- although more emotionally than physically, it’s a treat to see. I wouldn’t want either one of them as an enemy!  

Male cast members also do a fine job. Darren Schnase projects just the right amount of male frustration at losing command to a female, and Andy Allen lends some comic relief as a man who thinks he’s God’s gift to women.

Most of all, I enjoyed the mystery presented in Decaying Orbit. At one time or another, it’s easy to suspect each survivor as being the villain who stole the anti-virus and is responsible for causing all the trouble. Like most mystery fans, I appreciate not being able to predict the culprit’s identity or the final outcome of the story. Decaying Orbit is like an Agatha Christie story set in outer space.   

Yikes! I almost forgot something very important: if you’re a sci-fi buff, this movie boasts enough futuristic jargon and speedy chases through outer space to hold your attention. Decaying Orbit isn’t Star Wars, of course, but it’s a promising feature debut from Tim Pyle and HogoFilm.  

(Released by HogoFilm; not rated by MPAA. For more information, please go to www.hogofilm.com.)