Long Distance (2024) – One Survivor, One Alien Planet, One Forgettable Journey

I saw a short scene from this movie on social media. A spaceship is struck by an asteroid. An asteroid miner wakes from cryogenic sleep and experiences emergency evacuation procedures. His escape pod, along with most others, hurtles toward a barren, alien planet. He lands largely unscathed but soon begins to realize he's the only survivor. The scene looked interesting, and I had to know what happens next. So I decided to watch it.

The movie's most interesting part is the beginning. Later, it becomes a survival movie on an alien planet with some mysterious things happening. Unfortunately, that initial excitement doesn't fully carry through to the end.

The Plot: Alone on an Alien World

Andy Ramirez (Anthony Ramos) is an asteroid miner. His ship is struck by an asteroid, forcing an emergency evacuation. He crash-lands on a strange, barren alien planet. He soon discovers he's the only survivor.

He has limited oxygen. Strange creatures are hunting him. And there's one other escape pod that made it down—belonging to Naomi Scott's character. His only goal is to reach her before his oxygen runs out.

The setup is classic sci-fi survival. Man vs. nature. Man vs. alien. Man vs. his own ticking clock. And for the first act, it works. The tension is real. The visuals are decent. The premise hooks you.

But then the movie slows down.

What Works: The Beginning and the Mystery

The opening sequence is genuinely gripping. The crash. The panic. The realization that everyone else is dead. It's well-paced and creates immediate stakes.

The alien planet itself is interesting—harsh, unforgiving, with strange creatures that stalk Ramirez from a distance. The mystery of what happened to the other survivors adds some intrigue. Anthony Ramos (In the Heights, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) is likable enough as the lead, bringing energy and vulnerability.

What Doesn't: Pacing and Forgettable Moments

Here's the problem. After that strong start, the movie becomes a slow survival trek. Ramirez walks. Talks to himself. Has conversations via radio with the other survivor. Walks some more. The middle section drags.

Some scenes feel like too much talking and not enough happening. While there are action moments and encounters with alien creatures, they're spaced too far apart. The tension that was so strong in the first act starts to fade.

The movie is only 1 hour and 26 minutes long, but it feels longer. That's never a good sign.

The Themes: Survival, Isolation, and Human Connection

At its core, Long Distance is about survival against impossible odds. Ramirez is alone on a planet with no help coming. His oxygen is running out. Every decision matters.

It's also about human connection. The radio conversations between Ramirez and the other survivor become his lifeline—not just for survival, but for sanity. The film tries to say that even when we're alone, we need someone to talk to.

But these themes aren't explored deeply enough. The film touches on them, then moves on to the next survival obstacle.

The Ratings: A Little-Known Film

• IMDb: 5.7/10 (from 6,600 users)
• Rotten Tomatoes: Only 4 critic reviews (not enough for a score)
• Audience Score: 46% (100+ ratings)

The numbers tell the story. Not many people have seen or even know about this movie. It was originally scheduled for theatrical release in 2022 under the title Distant, but it was delayed multiple times . It eventually got a limited release in Vietnam in July 2024 and quietly appeared on Hulu in the US in July 2025 before being removed .

This is the fate of many mid-budget sci-fi films that lose studio confidence. They get dumped on streaming with little marketing and disappear.

Final Verdict: A 6/10 One-Time Watch

My rating is 6 out of 10. I love the beginning, but later the pace becomes a little slow. While Ramirez tries to survive and get to the second survivor, some scenes feel like too much talking. Yet there are some nice action and mysterious alien creature scenes too.

The movie starts strong but has ups and downs. It's entertaining enough for one watch, but later it's very easily forgettable.

Recommendation: Stream it if you're a fan of Anthony Ramos or if you've run out of better sci-fi survival movies. Don't expect to remember it next week.

Have you seen Long Distance (or Distant under its original title)? Did you also feel the middle section dragged? Let me know in the comments!

And suggest a movie for my next review! I'm in the mood for a sci-fi film that stays strong from beginning to end.

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See also My full list of 2026 movie reviews →