Zoe

Two researchers at a cutting edge lab dream up a tool meant to tune the chemistry of love. They test software and devices designed to measure attraction, compatibility, and closeness, aiming to refine how couples connect. As their experiments deepen, the lines between scientific objectivity and intimate longing blur, pulling them into questions about consent, control, and what makes real emotion endure. The project spirals from clinical tweaks to unexpected consequences, pushing the two scientists to reconsider what they owe each other and to the people they care about outside the lab. Zoe unfolds as a stylish, thought provoking look at romance under pressure. Visually it favors muted color palettes and close, unusual camera work that heightens the emotional lean.

Released in 2018, Zoe was directed by Drake Doremus with a screenplay by Richard Greenberg, presenting a high minded romance thriller built around a science based premise. The film foregrounds intimate performances and a cool, clinical mood, with Léa Seydoux and Ewan McGregor headlining the cast.

Box office figures are modest, with Zoe earning about 403,625 in theaters worldwide, reflecting limited release and niche appeal rather than broad commercial success.

While not a blockbuster, Zoe sits among Drake Doremus's intimate science fiction romances, offering a conversation starter about the ethics and emotions tied to engineered attraction. The performances from Seydoux and McGregor anchor the film's speculative premise in human detail. It favors quiet scenes that let ideas breathe and keeps action minimal, reinforcing mood over spectacle. The film's visual texture and restrained score contribute to a convincing sense of realism about the lab setting.

Critics highlighted the premise's provocative blend of romance and technology and noted the film's strong chemistry between the leads. The core themes center on whether love can be refined without losing spontaneity, and how experimentation changes trust and personal responsibility. It raises questions about privacy, consent, and the cost of perfection in relationships.