PIC of the Week – Sputnik
Article Series by Ray Schillaci
IFC pounced on the domestic rights to Sputnik, the Russian-made sci-fi thriller before anyone else had a chance to send it into orbit. Unfortunately, the film had its share of stops and sputters attempting to reach a wide audience. Sputnik was suppose to launch at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, but the fest was postponed due to Covid-19.
Sony Pictures had the film slated for a theatrical release April 2020 in Russia, but instead released it on VOD. And, in August 2020, IFC gave the film a limited theatrical release and VOD in the states. Despite all this, Sputnik ended up being the fifth most rented film on Apple TV.
Sputnik is the greatest science fiction thriller since Ridley Scott’s Alien. The film is cold, calculating, and suspenseful as hell. There is an uncanny realistic tone to it that chills to the bone, and you would think that it could be based on actual events. The story takes place in 1983, the peak of the Cold War, two Russian cosmonauts on a space mission have a very strange encounter. Some thing attaches itself to their capsule, and only one survives the landing.
Russian hero/cosmonaut and survivor, Konstantin, is whisked away to a secret military facility and studied. He is unclear as to why and knows nothing about the fate of his colleague and is kept in isolation. Soon after, a young psychiatrist, Tatyana Klimova, is recruited by a top official to study him along with other doctors and scientists, all the while she is being reviewed over her practices in a questionable past case.
The players are set up like chess pieces and each move is carefully thought out before the big reveal (SPOILER ALERT), Konstantin is playing host to a parasite that has created a symbiotic relationship with the cosmonaut without his knowing. The creature emerges at a specific time at night, explores its surroundings and then slips back into Konstantin’s mouth, resting inside him while giving him enormous strength and stamina. Dr. Klimova’s mission, if she chooses to continue, is to figure a way to separate the two safely.
As mentioned, the whole affair is handled clinically and with a great deal of suspense. Oksana Akinshina as Tatyana is the heart of this film and provides a welcome hope for humanity. Her character goes past the examination phase and actually looks at Konstantin as a human being in need while the others only view him as a self sacrificing hero to mother Russia.
Although, the real star of the film is director Egor Abramenko creating such forbidding dread throughout the entire story which seems to have been inspired by his short 2017 film The Passenger. Cranking up the tension level is cinematographer, Maxim Zhukov, capturing the cold isolation and immanent danger along with the eerie atmosphere created by the sound department and unsettling music score by Oleg Karpachev.
Sputnik is a beautiful blend of science fiction and subtle horror. Some may dismiss it as just another alien movie, but that is only viewing it on the surface. This Russian film goes much deeper and is more psychologically disturbing than the run-of-the-mill monster on a rampage with a questionable body count. Director Abramenko has a fresh enough take on this type of film that will tax your mind and leave you gasping at the same time all the while feeling as if you are witnessing something very new and different.
The film is available on several streaming services at various prices for rent or to own. The Blu and DVD are not expected to hit the home entertainment market until sometime in February. But, if you are a Hulu subscriber you can check out this white-knuckler for free, just hold on tight to your popcorn.
It is now available for Hulu subscribers and boy are they in for a treat.
Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com
