In 'Life' Mars Sample-Return Film, 'Be Careful What You Search For'

Mars attacks … this time in a new movie called "Life."

To be released in the U.S. on March 24, the going-in theme as advertised for Life is that an international space crew discovers life from Mars .

That's the good news.

But the delivery package of samples to their spacecraft from the Red Planet has an edgy side. As one poster for the movie notes: "Be careful what you search for."

This horror, sci-fi thriller features actors Rebecca Ferguson, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Ryan Reynolds. The film is directed by Daniel Espinosa known for 2012's "Safe House," "Child 44" (2015) and "Easy Money" (2010).

At quick glance, the film appears part "Andromeda Strain" and "Alien" – but the outcome is TBD.

According to early details from Sony pictures, Life tells the story of the six-member crew of the International Space Station that is on the cutting edge of one of the most important discoveries in human history: the first evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars.

As the crew begins to conduct research, their methods end up having unintended consequences and the life form turns out to be more intelligent than anyone ever expected.

The production company for Life is Skydance and will be distributed by Columbia Pictures.

Leonard David is author of "Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet," published by National Geographic. The book is a companion to the National Geographic Channel series "Mars." A longtime writer for Space.com, David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.