On an icy world far from Earth, two brothers go for a night-time run with a group of locals.
Based on the short story of the same name by Rich Larson.
Tropes:
- All There in the Script: Oxo, Fletcher and Logan's friend, whose name only appears in the credits and subtitles.
- Adaptational Alternate Ending: The original short story ends with Sedgewick confronting Fletcher about faking his injury which leads to them arguing. The adaptation ends on a more upbeat note when Sedgewick figures it out, but doesn't comment on it, seemingly appreciating that his brother gave him a chance to prove himself.
- Big Brother Instinct: Despite resenting his younger brother being Modded, Sedgewick helps his brother the moment he seems in danger.
- Big Little Brother: With the conversation around the table regarding how Sedge needs to mature and learn to fit in, you'd be forgiven for thinking Fletcher is his older brother. He's actually the younger brother, but being Modded gives a sleek, tall, athletic build, while Sedge regularly slouches when he walks.
- Bio-Augmentation: The majority of the local population are "Modded", granting them increased physical abilities and senses. Fletcher is from Earth, but is also modded.
- Exposed to the Elements: Despite the outdoors having freezing arctic temperatures with gale force winds, none of the locals seem bothered by it, wearing only light clothing. This seems to be a product of their modifications, as Sedgewick needs a heavy coat to go around.
- Fantastic Drug: All the locals smoke from a tiny curved pipe that lights up. When Sedgewick tries some, it elicits hallucinations so strong, it's like he's on another plane of existence.
- Fantastic Racism: Sedgewick is derided for being an "Extro", an un-modded person with baseline human abilities.
- Gratuitous Foreign Language: The people of the ice planet apparently speak European Portuguese for some reason. This is particularly odd since the original short story has a Conlang and some of its words are in fact peppered over in dialogue.
- Obfuscating Disability: The frost whales breach the ice too quickly, putting Fletcher and Sedge's lives - and reputations - in danger, so what's a brother to do? Fletcher appears to injure himself when he "lands wrong" on the rupturing ice, prompting Sedgewick to carry him while sprinting to escape the whales and complete the race. Sedge later realizes Fletcher faked his injury when only a short while later, Fletcher is jumping and landing on his injured leg without reaction.
- Over-the-Shoulder Carry: Sedge performs a textbook roll-into-carry on his brother to escape the whales.
- Space Whale: The local fauna includes an enormous species of bio-luminescent whale that lives below the ice, and stays away from the loud machinery of the humans. But every so often they breach the ice for breaths, in a majestic display.
- Thrill Seeker: It's heavily implied that being Modded makes average life incredibly boring. Fletcher is constantly playing with a ball at the dinner table and has to perform acrobatics rather than just walk along a street with his brother. When Sedge meets up with Fletcher's friends, they all behave much the same way, needing to jump around and test each other. They're also all constantly smoking the local drug.
