What Is Solis About?
The premise of Solis in 312 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a stark future where private mining outposts cling to the edge of a dying star, the cold vacuum of space becomes a character in its own right—silent, unforgiving, and filled with the relentless glare of the Sun. The isolated colony of Aten 2024 DEC, perched on a mineral‑rich asteroid, is a fragile hub of ambition and danger, its every operation balanced against the ever‑present threat of solar fury. The film’s tone is tight‑knit tension, a blend of high‑tech realism and intimate claustrophobia that makes the cosmos feel both vast and suffocating.
Troy Holloway is an experienced escape‑pod pilot thrust into an impossible situation when his craft is set on a collision course with the star he can barely see through a scorching windshield. Wounded and isolated, he must confront both the physical limits of his vessel and the psychological weight of his past. The narrative positions his struggle as a desperate contest against time, where every breath and repair feels like a gamble with an unforgiving universe.
Commander Roberts leads a daring rescue squad aboard the ship Hathor 18, tasked with a ninety‑minute window to reach Troy before the Sun’s heat becomes absolute. She carries her own burdens—personal loss, a yearning for redemption, and the weight of strict orders that demand at least one survivor. Her crew’s dynamics, a mix of seasoned professionals and fresh faces, mirror the larger themes of trust, responsibility, and the drive to pull someone back from the brink.
The film weaves these parallel journeys into a meditation on survival under extreme pressure, where the ticking clock is as much an internal countdown as it is a literal one. By aligning the stark, sun‑scorched backdrop with the characters’ hidden connections and unresolved grief, Solis invites viewers to wonder how far humanity will go to save a single life when the universe itself seems determined to claim it.
What Happens in Solis?
The complete story of Solis, from the first scene to the last, in 351 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
On Aten 2024 DEC, Troy Holloway, Steven Ogg, is a prospector and engineering technician for the Orbis Mining Corporation. After a space mining accident, Milton, Sid Phoenix and Lieutenant Harris are killed. Holloway evacuates aboard the EEV Khapera 2 with Milton’s corpse, becoming the lone survivor of the trio.
He awakens to a silent, empty cabin and rapidly establishes contact with Commander Roberts, Alice Lowe, the new pilot of Hathor 18. The EEV beacon is down, and Holloway cannot inform Hathor 18 of his exact coordinates. Roberts works to triangulate his position, using a PLB to try and locate the drifting capsule.
Roberts questions Holloway about the extent of his injuries, including a concussion, as she relentlessly works to pinpoint his location. Soon she triangulates the beacon and confirms where the EEV sits in space. She tells him that the EEV’s departure from the DEC has put him on a direct course toward the Sun, a fate Holloway has already suspected given the Sun’s glow visible through the EEV’s window.
Holloway explains the package’s condition—the EEV bears several damaged systems, from temperature control to a radiation leak. Roberts initiates a rescue mission with Hathor 18, determined to retrieve him. Holloway struggles to keep the craft functional, making repairs even as he sustains injuries. The window of the EEV begins to crack, and hope starts to slip away. He urges Roberts to turn back to avoid endangering her crew and herself, but she insists on following Control’s orders to rescue at least one Aten 2024 DEC crew member.
As the EEV is drawn closer to the Sun, Holloway presses on with repairs, including a crucial repair on the exterior. His oxygen levels fall, and his consciousness wavers. He again pleads with Roberts to retreat, yet she remains resolute, refusing to abandon him. Holloway then tells Roberts that he will come through the window, asking her to pull in front of him. She complies, pulling the two ships together just as his air runs out. He speaks aloud that he’s going home and steadies himself for the final push as the window shatters.
Solis Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Space mining disaster and Holloway's evacuation” to “Rescue succeeds and Holloway goes home”. 12 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Space mining disaster and Holloway's evacuation
A space mining accident on Aten 2024 DEC kills Milton and Lieutenant Harris. Holloway evacuates in the EEV Khapera 2 with Milton's corpse and becomes the lone survivor. He awakens and makes contact with Commander Roberts aboard Hathor 18 to coordinate a rescue.
When:immediately after the accident Where:Aten vicinity, space
- 2
Beacon down and initial isolation
With the beacon down, Holloway cannot inform Hathor 18 of his exact coordinates. He realizes help must come from Roberts regardless of direct contact. The isolation compounds the tension as he awaits a possible rescue.
When:shortly after awakening Where:Inside EEV Khapera 2
- 3
Roberts triangulates Holloway's position
Roberts triangulates Holloway's beacon and pinpoints the EEV's location. She informs him that Hathor 18 will attempt a rescue and outlines a plan to intercept. The discovery marks the first concrete link between the trapped astronaut and the rescue team.
When:shortly after initial contact Where:Space near Aten
- 4
Sunward trajectory revealed
Roberts tells Holloway that the EEV's departure from DEC has put him on a sunward trajectory. Holloway notes that the Sun is visible through the EEV's window, confirming the grim course. The revelation heightens the urgency of the rescue mission.
When:soon after triangulation Where:Inside EEV Khapera 2
- 5
Damage to the EEV surfaces
Holloway learns of damage to the EEV, including temperature control issues and a radiation leak. He begins to assess repair needs while bracing for the increased risk in the hostile environment. The situation escalates as life support becomes more precarious.
When:soon after Where:Inside EEV Khapera 2
- 6
Rescue attempt initiated
Roberts initiates the rescue attempt with Hathor 18, maneuvering toward the EEV. She emphasizes the command decision to recover at least one crew member from Aten 2024 DEC. The tense chase underlines the perils of space rescue.
When:during the rescue window Where:Space near Aten, Hathor 18
- 7
Holloway repairs under duress
Holloway makes repairs on the EEV, performing both interior fixes and exterior work despite sustaining injuries. He labors to stabilize systems critical to life support and propulsion. The effort demonstrates his determination to survive and enable the rescue.
When:during the rescue attempt Where:Inside and outside EEV Khapera 2
- 8
Window cracks and dwindling oxygen
The EEV's window begins to crack as it is battered by solar proximity. Holloway's oxygen levels decline and he fights to stay conscious. He urges Roberts to press the rescue despite the mounting danger.
When:as proximity to Sun increases Where:Inside EEV Khapera 2
- 9
Control orders to rescue at least one
Roberts reminds Holloway that she has strict orders from Control to rescue at least one crew member. She remains committed to the mission and continues the maneuver toward the EEV. The exchange underscores the ethical weight of the rescue protocol.
When:during the rescue attempt Where:Hathor 18 and vicinity of EEV
- 10
Continued repairs as the Sun looms
As the EEV is drawn closer to the Sun, Holloway pushes forward with repairs, including some exterior work under solar glare. He knows time is running out and every repair could be the difference between life and death. The solar heat intensifies the urgency of the mission.
When:approaching the Sun Where:Between EEV Khapera 2 and Hathor 18
- 11
Final approach and warning
Holloway tells Roberts that he will be coming through the window and asks her to pull in front of him. She positions Hathor 18 to intercept in a high-stakes maneuver. The moment marks a crucial escalation in the rescue attempt.
When:final approach Where:Space between EEV Khapera 2 and Hathor 18
- 12
Rescue succeeds and Holloway goes home
Roberts aligns Hathor 18 to intersect, and the EEV's window shatters under the strain. Holloway declares that he is going home as he makes his final bid for safety. The rescue culminates in a tense moment of survival and reunion with the Hathor crew.
When:final interception Where:Near Hathor 18 and EEV Khapera 2
Who Are the Main Characters in Solis?
6 characters, among them Troy Holloway (Steven Ogg), Commander Roberts (Alice Lowe) and Milton (Sid Phoenix): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- TH
Troy Holloway (Steven Ogg)
Played by Steven Ogg
A resourceful prospector and engineering technician who becomes the lone survivor of the initial accident. He battles a damaged EEV, coping with a radiation leak and dwindling oxygen while performing improvised repairs. His stubborn determination to return home drives the action, and his perseverance under extreme conditions defines his character.
- 🧭 Explorer
- 🛠️ Engineer
- 🫡 Determined
-
Commander Roberts (Alice Lowe)
Played by Alice Lowe
The new pilot of Hathor 18, she demonstrates pragmatism and leadership under pressure. She remains committed to the rescue mission and makes tough calls to save Holloway while balancing risk to her own crew. Her decisions reflect duty, resourcefulness, and a willingness to defy orders when lives are at stake.
- 🧭 Leader
- 🛰️ Pilot
- 🧡 Compassionate
- M(
Milton (Sid Phoenix)
Played by Sid Phoenix
A crew member who is killed early in the mission, his death triggers the survival arc that follows for Holloway. Milton's presence is felt as part of the mission's cost and the stakes of space exploration.
- 💀 Casualty
- 🧭 Colleague
- LH
Lieutenant Harris (Henry Douthwaite)
Played by Henry Douthwaite
An astronaut who accompanies Holloway and Milton and dies in the initial accident. Harris represents the dangers of space mining work and the fragility of crew life in a hostile environment.
- 🛰️ Comrade
- 💀 Casualty
- LH
Liz Holloway (Kate Coogan)
Played by Kate Coogan
A crew member connected to Holloway's circle; the summary does not detail her specific actions, but her presence underscores the human dimension of the mission.
- 👥 Crew
- SS
Ship, Suit (Charlette Kilby)
Played by Charlette Kilby
Character credited as 'Ship, Suit' with no explicit actions described in the summary; her inclusion suggests a role related to the spacecraft or spacesuits within the mission.
- 🧰 Utility
Where and When Is Solis Set?
Solis is set in Aten (December 2024). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
December 2024
Set in a near-future timeframe, the story follows a space mining operation on Aten in December 2024. Advanced spacecraft and life-support systems enable rescue attempts, but the environment remains unforgiving. The date anchors a single, high-stakes incident that drives the survival and rescue narrative.
Where
Aten
The events unfold aboard and around Aten, a mining operation in space. The setting features a damaged EEV and rescue attempts from Hathor 18, highlighting a harsh vacuum environment. The environment is defined by the dangers of space: a radiation leak, technical failures, and the Sun looming nearby. The mission hubs on a distant outpost and the perilous journey to contact rescue.
- 🪐 Aten
- 🚀 Space mining
- ☀️ Sun proximity
What Are the Themes of Solis?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Endurance, Duty and Isolation.
-
01
Endurance
The narrative centers on surviving extreme conditions: a damaged EEV, dwindling oxygen, and a creeping radiation leak. Holloway pushes through injuries and fatigue to keep the vessel functional and to reach a rescue. The story frames resilience as the core driver of action in a hostile frontier.
-
02
Duty
Roberts adheres to rescue protocols and Control's orders, prioritizing the possibility of saving at least one life. Holloway's pleas to turn back clash with mission directives, creating tension between protocol and human life. The moral calculus of saving one person at great risk underpins key decisions.
-
03
Isolation
The claustrophobic setting of a near-vacuum environment isolates individuals from help and normal support. Communication lines are impaired and the window to rescue narrows as the Sun's proximity endangers both ships. The survivor's mental state becomes as critical as physical survival.
What Kind of Film Is Solis?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A tense and claustrophobic survival thriller set in space, portraying a desperate race against time and the profound loneliness of isolation.
- claustrophobic
- desperate
- anxious
- hopeful
- melancholic
- lonely
- survival
- space isolation
- rescue mission
- grief and loss
Content notes: depictions of death, life-threatening situation.
Quiz
How well do you remember Solis? Test yourself on the story.
