A thrilling little animation. It's nice to see a story that isn't over-the-top sci-fi, but in the realm of the possible. While I'm curious if the physics would actually work this way in space, this was a tense, 'realistic' piece of survival horror. The CG was also amazing, almost out of the uncanny valley. While the story still suffers from what most of these shorts struggle with (lacking depth and a feeling of satisfying purpose), this is one of the LD&R shorts that will stick with you.
39 Reviews
Her Own Fault
dafoat26 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
An astronaut repairing a satellite is struck by a piece of debris and ends up adrift. Why? Because she performed a solo EVA without a tether or any type of maneuvering device. In reality astronauts never perform a spacewalk without a tether connected to their ship, or some sort of maneuvering device. They do this precisely so they won't end up drifting off into space. This like a story about a driver getting into an accident because they went out for a spin with a bag over their head. Hard to feel much sympathy.
127 Hours in Gravity
OnjiMooteDaMarle16 May 2019
Brutal, brilliant!
alsation7217 March 2019
Weak attempt at 'hard sci-fi'
jamesrupert20145 July 2022
Adrift and running out of air, her spacesuit punctured by a piece of space-debris, an astronaut on EVA has to figure out a way to return to her ship before she dies. This is a classic 'hard science' scenario: inevitable death unless the 'cold equations' of physics (in this case freefall in a vacuum) can be worked around. Stories like these only work when the set-up is air tight (excuse the pun) and the solution logical, and unfortunately 'Helping Hand' fails these criteria. A bit more care in the setup could have established why the astronaut is doing EVA untethered and her first attempt to reach safety (which is an OK solution to her dilemma) should have worked, bypassing the ridiculous and implausible second attempt. Nicely done CGI but more thought should have gone into the story before putting pixels to screen.
Hahahahaha
sclafunk20 March 2019
This was one of my favorites. People are honestly on here, talking about "it's not realistic." It's a sci fi cartoon. chill tf out. This was super intese and made me cringe. It was good storytelling. Haha, it's not realistic. Smoke something and enjoy it, holy moly.
One Armed Scissor
southdavid17 April 2019
I've decided to review each of the short films that make up this series individually.
Gory little physics based horror story about Alexandria (voiced by Elly Condron) who whilst working outside on a satellite is struck by some small debris that damages her oxygen tank and severs her connection and leads to her floating away into open space with only minutes' worth of oxygen left. Knowing that rescue can't make it to her in time, she makes a desperate choice to try and save herself.
CGI on this one is again really good, better than the werewolf episode but not as strong as some of the other instalments. It's a grim little story of desperate sacrifice that doesn't outstay its welcome (although strangely, I think I'd have preferred it to end on a cliff-hanger) so there's not an awful lot to form an opinion on. It's a little bit haunting, in that I was still thinking about it a few hours later but I'm not sure I'll ever need to watch it again.
Gory little physics based horror story about Alexandria (voiced by Elly Condron) who whilst working outside on a satellite is struck by some small debris that damages her oxygen tank and severs her connection and leads to her floating away into open space with only minutes' worth of oxygen left. Knowing that rescue can't make it to her in time, she makes a desperate choice to try and save herself.
CGI on this one is again really good, better than the werewolf episode but not as strong as some of the other instalments. It's a grim little story of desperate sacrifice that doesn't outstay its welcome (although strangely, I think I'd have preferred it to end on a cliff-hanger) so there's not an awful lot to form an opinion on. It's a little bit haunting, in that I was still thinking about it a few hours later but I'm not sure I'll ever need to watch it again.
good tension even though it isn't believeable
C_DonaldSevern13 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Despite the fact that everything in the story is either unavoidable and/or impossible they still managed to engage me in the tension of the story. So it did the job and I went along for the ride using a LOT of Mr. Wood's "suspension of disbelief"
I know it is just a little short that isn't supposed to be realistic, but so many of the issues with this could have been fixed simply with better writing.
Even if the writers spent 15 minutes playing kerbal space program they could have had a better understanding of how things work up there.
I know it is just a little short that isn't supposed to be realistic, but so many of the issues with this could have been fixed simply with better writing.
Even if the writers spent 15 minutes playing kerbal space program they could have had a better understanding of how things work up there.
In space, no one can hear you scream
ilejaf6 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This short bears the signature of all the great episodes in the collection - disconcerting, thought provoking, smashingly beautiful.
The animation and the story look very realistic. It's basically something that could happen next Thuesday, excluding the fact that the station is orbitting a planet different from Earth.
Of course my main question is - why, oh why, had the astronaut to do what she did? Couldn't she take off and throw the damaged backpack or at least the oxygen bottle? That would have got the jobe done, not to mention that she'd have two free hands to operate then.
Also opening a spacesuit in space doesn't seem like a very good idea. Even if it's divided into hermetically sealed sections, your limbs are continuous, so oxygen and warmth leaks are unavoidable.
Yet another wondering is - can you constrict and unfold your body and thus propel youself in zero gravity?
As you see, lots of thought provoking questions, which speaks well for this sci-fi short.
The animation and the story look very realistic. It's basically something that could happen next Thuesday, excluding the fact that the station is orbitting a planet different from Earth.
Of course my main question is - why, oh why, had the astronaut to do what she did? Couldn't she take off and throw the damaged backpack or at least the oxygen bottle? That would have got the jobe done, not to mention that she'd have two free hands to operate then.
Also opening a spacesuit in space doesn't seem like a very good idea. Even if it's divided into hermetically sealed sections, your limbs are continuous, so oxygen and warmth leaks are unavoidable.
Yet another wondering is - can you constrict and unfold your body and thus propel youself in zero gravity?
As you see, lots of thought provoking questions, which speaks well for this sci-fi short.
One question
nicci197224 May 2021
Hard to swallow
injury-654475 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Are we really supposed to believe that she wouldn't instantly pass out from the pain? Is it really believable that you can have a stump exposed to the vacuum of space? I found it unintentionally comedic I have to admit (laughed out loud). But ridiculousness of concept is the only virtue here!
1x11
formotog9 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This was actually brilliant imo. First things first, yes she should've had a tether and it was a pretty large oversight on the part of the writers. I'm also gonna assume that most of what she did is also pretty unrealistic. However, just this once, I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt because it was just so good anyway. The music, the animation which I think is definitely the best I've seen so far, the concept. It's a terrifying concept to just be drifting in space like that. I am definitely a fan of the survival genre and so it was great to see the lengths she went to to get back to her ship, even if that is probably just not even close to what would happen in reality. Overall this one is absolutely the best one I've seen so far
Low 9
Low 9
Lol
hamstersinwigs15 July 2019
I'm full starring this one just to counter all the Internet physicists from the school of Google haha. It was cool, gross, and the space effects were pretty, and that's all that needs to be said really. Suspend disbelief people, or why are you watching something called Love, death, robots?
A far less story in the love,death + robots series
tedkraan30 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Why don't you line up? Especially when you are out alone?
Line up!
You wouldn't be in this situation if you had lined up...
Past that the 2nd solution is interesting and realistic. Newtonian physics, but then her arm freezes in a no-time and is able to get to the ship when the oxygen ran out. Are they trying for a realistic setting or not? Make up your mind already! :)
Past that the 2nd solution is interesting and realistic. Newtonian physics, but then her arm freezes in a no-time and is able to get to the ship when the oxygen ran out. Are they trying for a realistic setting or not? Make up your mind already! :)
Scary and intense.
cruise012 June 2019
Love, Death, and Robots
Helping Hand (4 out of 5 stars).
The animation in this episode is beautifully done. The short story is inspirational about survival and how you will do just about anything to survive. Even if it will cost you something permanently. The plot follows an astronaut who is floating in space to fix a satellite and debris causes her to adrift into space. And she is very close to her own space craft which she cant get too and only has a limited supply of oxygen.
It is a cringing episode on what the character does to save herself. And suspenseful. It was a good episode.
Helping Hand (4 out of 5 stars).
The animation in this episode is beautifully done. The short story is inspirational about survival and how you will do just about anything to survive. Even if it will cost you something permanently. The plot follows an astronaut who is floating in space to fix a satellite and debris causes her to adrift into space. And she is very close to her own space craft which she cant get too and only has a limited supply of oxygen.
It is a cringing episode on what the character does to save herself. And suspenseful. It was a good episode.
Self-five.
Pjtaylor-96-1380444 January 2020
'Helping Hand (2019)' doesn't really make much sense (its physics are all over the place), but it doesn't really have to. It's suspenseful, exciting and entertaining. It manages to eek out its central situation for exactly the right duration, remaining tense throughout. It's also quite scary at points, the infinite void of space providing an existential terror that one can't quite put their finger on. It's a good effort, hampered only by some stilted dialogue and iffy gravity. 7/10
The best of.
andriyvoron17 March 2019
Gravity meets Saw
noxaman10 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Setting aside for a moment that the physics don't exactly work out, that was a really creative idea and I think it does a great job of encapsulating how simple the dangers of working in space can be. Now granted this is why NASA makes their people tie-off during EVA, but as the age of privatized space flight gains speed, I think we will see a lot more "space cowboys" playing loose with safety.
All that is to say that this is a great example of how simple sci-fi can be so good. This short has a strong futurist undertones, and I love that.
Any one else notice that it definitely wasn't earth she was orbiting? Little details that think make the film for me.
All that is to say that this is a great example of how simple sci-fi can be so good. This short has a strong futurist undertones, and I love that.
Any one else notice that it definitely wasn't earth she was orbiting? Little details that think make the film for me.
BAD WRITING
michaelvladimir3 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The whole plot hinges on the fact that a supposedly trained astronaut decided to leave the ship and attempt repairs without using a rope or tether so that she didnt drift off. -_-
There is no one in the history of humanity who has left their craft whilst in orbit without a rope attached to the ship. This is just poor writing. No research or common sense conducted
There is no one in the history of humanity who has left their craft whilst in orbit without a rope attached to the ship. This is just poor writing. No research or common sense conducted
9/10
guilhermelopes-8691621 March 2019
Alien throwback
ant-coleman1 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Great references to the old classic aliens with the opening line of LV426. Then the suits and consols like like alien isolation, the female character, the scream in her suit (in space nobody can hear you scream) and the hand floating away looking like a face hugger, very in line the alien floating away from the ship In the first film. Well played.
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