Mission to Mars

Mission to Mars

Year: 2022

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: Spanish

Director: Amat Vallmajor del Pozo

Drama

In a post‑apocalyptic Basque Country, unemployed archaeologist Txomin receives a commission to write an expert report on Mars. He and his frail brother Gene set off from Eibar on a surreal road‑trip across northern Spain, joined later by their sister Mila after a toxic mist derails their route. Old family grievances surface, and with the aid of spectral figures and even a vision of Jesus Christ, the brothers press on to fulfill their Mars mission.

Tense
Bittersweet ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Fast pacing
Complex story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Mission to Mars (2022)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Mission to Mars (2022). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

2020s

Set in the near future, the film follows human Mars exploration early in the 2020s. The timeline tracks the initial Mars mission, a subsequent rescue mission, and the ensuing discoveries that unfold over months as the crew confronts isolation, danger, and a revelation about Martian life. The technologically advanced setting highlights interplanetary travel, orbital stations, and life support as constant concerns.

Location

Mars, World Space Station

The story unfolds on the Martian surface, centering on the Mars I mission in the Cydonia region where a bright white formation appears. A greenhouse-like habitat is established to study Martian geology and potential water sources, while the World Space Station in Earth orbit monitors the mission and coordinates rescue efforts. Key locations include the Mars surface, the Resupply Module in Mars orbit, and the Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) being repaired to bring the crew home.

❄️ Mars exploration 🚀 Space monitoring

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:01

Main Characters – Mission to Mars (2022)

Meet the key characters of Mission to Mars (2022), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Luke Graham

Commander of the Mars I mission who remains calm under pressure and drives the team through peril. He uncovers the 3D DNA-like signal and keeps morale intact while navigating mysterious anomalies. Luke ultimately represents human resilience and curiosity in the face of an unfolding interplanetary revelation.

🧭 Leadership 🎯 Determination

Terri Fisher

Woody Blake's wife and a resilient member of the rescue efforts. She works with Luke to decipher the signals and helps guide the group through dangerous terrain. Terri's courage and quick thinking become pivotal in the attempt to rejoin the ERV and escape the dust storm.

💪 Resilience 🧭 Courage

Jim McConnell

A recent widower who joins Mars Rescue and emerges as a key player in the mission's moral and operational decisions. He analyzes the signals, participates in the rover broadcast, and ultimately accepts the Martians' invitation, illustrating the theme of fate and choice.

🧠 Intelligence 🤝 Teamwork

Woody Blake

Commander of the Mars Rescue mission who demonstrates leadership and self-sacrifice. His willingness to risk everything for Terri's safety culminates in a dramatic act that underscores the human cost of exploration.

🎖️ Leadership 🪖 Sacrifice

Phil Ohlmyer

Technician responsible for repairing the Earth Return Vehicle (ERV). He stays behind to ensure the ship can launch if possible, highlighting the practical, technical side of survival in space missions.

🔧 Technical 🧭 Responsibility

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:01

Major Themes – Mission to Mars (2022)

Explore the central themes of Mission to Mars (2022), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Discovery

The crew confronts the unknown when a mysterious formation on Mars is perceived as a potential gateway to new science and life. The discovery drives scientific curiosity, pushing the limits of current knowledge about Mars and its history. It also raises questions about humanity's place in a broader interplanetary context.

🕯️ Sacrifice

Characters must choose between personal safety and the welfare of others, culminating in acts of selflessness. Woody sacrifices himself to ensure Terri's chance of survival, embodying the grim realities of space travel. The theme underscores the cost of exploration and the bonds formed under extreme pressure.

👽 Kinship

The narrative reveals a lineage of interplanetary connection: Martians seeded Earth with DNA, inviting a human to join their journey to a new home. This prompts contemplation of destiny, collaboration, and a shared cosmic heritage. The discovery reframes humanity's place in the solar system and hints at a broader civilization beyond Earth.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:01

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Existential Sci-Fi Road Trips like Mission to Mars

Surreal journeys through broken landscapes that question humanity's place in the cosmos.If you liked the surreal, high-intensity journey in Mission to Mars, explore more movies where characters embark on epic trips through strange worlds, grappling with heavy existential questions and uncanny discoveries. These films blend tense survival with deep philosophical drama.

surrealdesolateexistentialtenseawe-inspiringmelancholicuncanny

Narrative Summary

Narratives typically follow a group or individual on a challenging trek through a surreal or post-apocalyptic landscape. The physical obstacles they face force them to confront old grievances and new truths, building towards a revelation that recontextualizes humanity's role in the universe, often with a bittersweet cost.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a journey as a metaphor for existential inquiry, blending high-stakes survival with a melancholic, awe-inspiring tone and complex themes of cosmic destiny.

Bittersweet Cosmic First Contact stories like Mission to Mars

Profound alien encounters that bring transcendent knowledge at a heavy personal cost.For viewers who enjoyed the heavy emotional weight and bittersweet alien revelation in Mission to Mars, this section features similar movies about profound first contact. These films explore the lonely, awe-inspiring, and often costly consequences of meeting a cosmic destiny.

awe-inspiringlonelyuncannyanxiousmelancholicexistentialdiscovery

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a gradual unraveling of a cosmic mystery, building tension towards a climactic encounter with an alien presence. The revelation is not purely uplifting; it demands a sacrifice or a difficult choice from the protagonists, resulting in an ending that mingles awe with a profound sense of loneliness or loss.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific emotional arc: the awe of discovery is tempered by the heavy cost of that knowledge. They feature tense pacing, complex mysteries, and a dominant tone that balances the uncanny and the melancholic.

Unlock the Full Story of Mission to Mars

Don't stop at just watching — explore Mission to Mars in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Mission to Mars is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Mission to Mars Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Mission to Mars, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Mission to Mars Summary

Mission to Mars Timeline

Track the full timeline of Mission to Mars with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Mission to Mars Timeline

Mission to Mars Spoiler-Free Summary

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Mission to Mars Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Mission to Mars

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Mission to Mars (2022) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Mission to Mars (2022) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Mission to Mars (2022) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow