What does it mean to be human, and who gets to define it? What does it mean to exist in a city like Los Angeles—teeming with life, yet full of visitors and wanderers who remain unnoticed? If an alien were to land in the City of Angels, would they be overwhelmed, or would they see something familiar in the chaos? Aaron Silverstein’s The Infinite Husk dives into these questions, blending noir and sci-fi in a way that feels both intimate and sprawling.
At its core, The Infinite Husk follows Vel (Peace Ikediuba), an extraterrestrial visitor in human form whose primary objective is to find Mauro (Circus-Szalewski). Unlike traditional sci-fi thrillers that set up a cat-and-mouse dynamic between two characters, The Infinite Husk takes a different approach—Vel and Mauro’s relationship unfolds more like a teacher-student bond, an exploration of what it means to be human. Through their interactions, Vel comes to understand human nature in ways that are as profound as they are unsettling, while Mauro, in turn, is forced to reexamine his own reality.
There’s an eerie beauty in the language Vel and Mauro share, their ideas of humanity not as far-fetched or unrealistic as one might expect from a story about an alien among us. Their exchanges are philosophical without feeling preachy, questioning the very structures and behaviors we take for granted. The Infinite Husk echoes the meditative qualities of Starman, The Brother From Another Planet, and The Hidden, but with a noir-influenced detachment that makes Vel’s observations feel both analytical and deeply personal.
Ikediuba delivers a mesmerizing performance, making Vel an enigma—both an outsider and a keen observer of human emotion. Circus-Szalewski is equally compelling as Mauro, bringing a weighty presence to their exchanges that calls to mind the best of James Cameron’s character-driven sci-fi. Even those with brief screen time contribute to the film’s immersive atmosphere, adding layers to the world Vel is trying to decipher.
One of the most striking aspects of The Infinite Husk is how it allows its world to breathe. The film is drenched in neon-lit solitude, trading the glamorized version of LA for the lived-in grit of its streets. Silence plays a crucial role, with quiet, intimate moments capturing the pulse of the city and the lives of its inhabitants. Silverstein steers away from fast-paced action and instead lets the film’s slow-burn narrative unravel naturally, giving every scene the weight of quiet contemplation before building toward an intense and thought-provoking climax.
In many ways, The Infinite Husk is more than a sci-fi thriller—it’s an exploration of identity, belonging, and the fragile understanding we have of ourselves. It presents big ideas without easy answers, challenging us to reconsider our own humanity through the lens of an outsider. While its unconventional storytelling and pacing may not be for everyone, it’s a film that will appeal to sci-fi purists, fans of introspective narratives, and anyone who enjoys stories that linger long after the credits roll.
3/5
Aaron Silverstein (Writer/Director)
Mitchel McKenzie (Cinematographer/Production Designer)
Christine Sohail (Producer)
Peace Ikediuba, Circus-Szalewski, Geena Alexandra, William Thomas Jones, Jyi Haruye Kaneshiro and Foreste Jean Feely.
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