Chapter 31 The reaction is violent

The The Star Trek franchise. was built on the premise of boldly going where no man has gone before, and Chapter 31 embodies that mantra, and then more. The story takes place far beyond the reach of the Federation, in the vast, neglected corners of the universe, where nightclub owners drink eyeball martinis and use foul language. Starfleet characters are also few and far between, and the story focuses on the sociopathic Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeo) rather than an admirable hero. So while the Paramount+ film technically embodies the franchise’s desire to explore new territory, other elements beg the question: Is this really Star Trek?

Well, the consensus among most critics is that Chapter 31 is Star Trek in name only – a movie that feels more like modern action movies than, well, Star Trek. How IGN’s Jordan Hoffman wrote“Chapter 31 will enrage Star Trek fans and bore everyone else. It’s contrived and derivative and doesn’t even look good.” A similar opinion was shared by Joe George of the Geek’s Denwho opined that “‘Star Trek: Chapter 31’ references an ugly, forgettable TV movie.”

These reviews summarize many of the opinions surrounding Chapter 31, but they aren’t the only problems critics have had with the film. With that in mind, let’s bravely explore some of the other reviews that have not been kind to the film from director Olatunde Osunsanmi and writer Craig Sweeney.

Viewers only need to watch a few episodes of Star Trek: Discovery to fully understand Chapter 31, but general audiences and beginners will get the gist of the story. It’s also clear that the filmmakers wanted to expand on the franchise’s lore, but let’s just say their good intentions didn’t translate into a good final product.

According to GamesRadar critic David Opie“Chapter 31” is tonally all over the place and lacks a coherent vision:

“‘Star Trek: Chapter 31’ doesn’t know what it wants to be. Is it a serious exploration of the criminal underbelly, a return to camp, or a tonal mix of both?”

Elsewhere, some critics have argued that Chapter 31 fails to make the most of its excellent cast, which includes the wonderful Michelle Yeoh, Amari Hardwicke, Sam Richardson and Casey Rolle. How Collider’s Samantha Coley noted“Roll also does a great job as a young Rachel Garrett, and if she’d been given more, it would have been fun to see her revel in the early days of one of Starfleet’s most legendary figures.”

On a more positive note, /Senior Film News Editor Jacob Hall praises Star Trek: Chapter 31 for stepping out of the franchise’s idealistic comfort zone and embracing the trashy B-movie quality:

“(H)onestly, the ‘boring B-movie nastiness’ is a shade of ‘Trek’ we haven’t seen before, and I’m loving it more and more as the film’s breakneck pace pulls me in scene after scene. ”

It seems that the film may not appeal to all trekkers, but it will probably find its fans among those who appreciate some craziness and thrills.

Star Trek: Chapter 31 premieres on January 24, 2025 on Paramount+.