Sometimes, loving a movie can be a curse. Once you are captivated by a masterpiece,it can be hard to settle for anything else, and this is especially true for a movie as iconic asAlien. What is undoubtedly one ofRidley Scott’smost important film releasesdidn’t just spawn a franchise and jettisonSigourney Weaverto global acclaim, it also redefined both the sci-fi andhorrorgenres with bone-chilling success, showing what a blend of both could accomplish with the right direction. That said, while most fans will probably agree that nothing can quite compare to the experience ofwatchingAlienfor the first time, one recent film isbound to impress even the most hardened sci-fi enthusiasts. Directed byEgor Abramenko, 2020’sSputnikis a criminally overlooked accomplishment that manages to follow closely inAlien’s footsteps while pulling off its own stellar extraterrestrial fright.
What Is ‘Sputnik’ About?
On the surface, Abramenko’s film soundsalmost like a poor imitation ofAlien, and perhaps, in another director’s hands, it would be. The film focuses on Dr. Tatyana Kilmova (Oksana Akinshina),a Russian psychologist who is enlisted by the Russian military in the year 1983to treat Konstantin Veshnyakov (Pyotr Fyadorov), a Soviet cosmonaut whose last trip to the stars ended in a crash landing which left his co-pilot dead. At first bold in her attempts to diagnose Veshnyakov, Dr. Kilmova is soon horrified to learn that the cosmonaut isn’t quite the lone survivor he appears to be. In reality,an alien entity has burrowed inside his stomachthat only comes out at night, forming a symbiotic relationship with Veshnyakov that Dr. Kilmova is subsequently tasked to either control or breakin this international gem.
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DespiteSputnik’s basic premise bearing a striking familiarity to its 1979 predecessor, the film’s captivating atmospheremakes clear that it makes the most of this inspiration, and critics agree. As of now,Sputnikboastsan 87% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, and its audience score isn’t far behind, testifying to the film’s narrative power. Unfortunately, due both to its international status and the fact thatSputnik,like many films in 2020, had the misfortune of being released right at the beginning of the pandemic, Abramenko’s filmis currently far less known than it deserves to be among American audiences. Nevertheless, the film’s gripping performances, production value, and riveting script more than make checking outSputnikworthwhile.
‘Sputnik’ Mixes Politics With Sci-Fi Suspense to Horrific Effect in Its Soviet Era
From its opening sequence depicting Veshnyakov’s final, ill-fated minutes in space,Sputnikdemonstrates a masterful handling of suspenseby gradually hinting at the appearance of its true monster, but what really sets Abramenko’s film apartfrom other recent sci-fi horrorsis the film’s premise. Taking place almost entirely within the confines of a Russian facility run by the merciless Colonel Semiradov (Fyodor Bondarchuk),Sputnikis as claustrophobic as a thriller and yet as gory as the bloodiest entries in the horror genre. Rather than devolvinginto a mindless slasheror more action-heavy form of sci-fi, such asPredator, however,Sputnikwields its gore sparingly, drawing out the film’s long periods of uncertainty as Dr. Kilmova gradually learns more about the symbiote infectingSputnik’s Soviet hero in time to be shocked by its aggressive potential.
As Semiradov increasingly finds himself drawn to this potential,Sputnikdoubles down on its political undertones to frame a classic sci-fi conflict between those who see the monster as a military weapon and those who see the man behind the monster. While this narrative angle may come off as tedious to thosewell-versed in sci-fi conventions,Sputnikholds your attention by gradually unearthing darker and darker truthsabout Veshnyakov’s condition, offering a criticism of those who would commit atrocities in the name of government while also offering a fascinating exploration of the dwindling boundary between Veshnyakov and the creature within. In this way,Sputnikdeviates from the more fantastical direction of somemore recent entries in theAlienfranchise, likePrometheusandAlien: Covenant, and instead uses its aliento subtly reflect on the defiant nature of the human spirit.
As a result, fans of more grounded, intense sci-fi horror should be especially drawn toSputnik.While Abramenko’s alien isn’t used to portray feminist horror in space, the movie nonethelessbalances ruthless gore with effective suspense to deliver a poignant cautionary taleabout attempting to control that which cannot help but crave freedom. With harrowing set piecesand a twist endingthat is bound to both make you rethink the entire film and tug at your heartstrings,Sputnikmore than succeeds in honoring its director’s inspirations. What’s more, between the memorable design of its unsettling alien and countless nerve-wracking deaths, it’s no wonder Abramenko’s filmalready has a bright future in Hollywood.
Summoned to a secluded research facility at the height of the Cold War, a controversial young doctor examines a cosmonaut who may not have returned to Earth alone.
