SPUTNIK: AVAILABLE IN SELECT THEATERS, DIGITAL & CABLE VOD AUGUST 14
SYNOPSIS: Russia, 1983 – Cold War tensions at their peak. A terrifying scene is discovered at the landing site of spacecraft Orbit-4. The commander is dead, the flight engineer in coma. The third crew member, Valery Basov, has survived, but he has lost his memory from the horrific experience and cannot shed light on the cause of the accident. In a secluded government facility, under the vigilant watch of armed guards, psychologist Tatiana Klimova (Oksana Akinshina) must cure the astronaut’s amnesia and unravel the mystery. In the process, she learns that Orbit-4 may have carried back an alien parasite that threatens to consume them all.
Commentary: I enjoyed this film. I say it often that sci-fi is a hard genre to master. There isn’t a lot of room for cleverness or a unique plot point. You have space, an alien life form, and a military unit wanting to destroy it or capitalize off of its power. That is the full pantry. SPUTNIK has all of that but also a fresh look at how that could all play out. Fans of Alien and retro thrillers will find quite a bit to gravitate to. But it isn’t just story that makes this an above board drama. The visuals, cinematography, and sound design are key elements in its success.
You can’t beat a movie set in the early 80’s in Russia. Even if it has nothing to do with war or political opposition. There is a never surrender attitude and strive for success at all cost that drives the characters. In a film about space aliens it still permeates with honor and country above all else. Here one of their native cosmonauts awakens from a space mission and finds himself in a government lab with little or no memory of the crash landing that took the life of a fellow spaceman. Controversial psychologist Tatiana Klimova is brought in to try and not only fix his brain but also try and shine light on a parasite he may have brought with him.
In any language the good vs evil, right vs wrong, human vs alien speaks the same. Some prefer to destroy that which they don’t understand while others wish to learn and grow from the discovery. Both characteristics clash in this one as Tatiana has to try and find a way to get to the truth without becoming a target herself. I like the dynamic and appreciate how Tataiana is written and how Oksana brings her to life. She is a female in an 80s man’s world so she has to be tough and stand her ground but also have the wisdom to see through the fog of lies.
SPUTNIK looks great as they bring the underground lab to life. The 80s props and old school technology adds to the visuals. They spared no expense in bringing the alien entity to life either. The makeup and special effects are spot on. I need to mention that the score and audio engulfs you as you watch. I love watching films at home with noise cancelling headphones and this one truly submerged me in its world.
Bottom line I give it a solid B. A great film for the genre and one that held my attention the entire time. It is in Russian with English subtitles. I know this is a turn off for many but having the Russian dialogue added to the story and setting for sure. Though unrated it is for mature audiences due to violence, terror, and very gory imagery.
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