286. Sputnik; movie review

 

SPUTNIK

Cert 15

114 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong bloody violence, horror, gore

Well, this was a surprise. I feared that Sputnik would be a straightforward if unappealing gore-fest but there is an enthralling story that sets it apart.

Consequently, it offers more evidence that Russian cinema is worthy of greater attention.

Egor Abramenko's film stars Pyotr Fyodorov as a cosmonaut whose uneventful space trip suddenly turns to horrific tragedy during the return to earth.

He survives but it is soon discovered that his body has become a host for an aggressive alien.

I suspect this would be covered up if it was in any country but the blanket is especially thick because the movie is set in the Soviet Union in 1983.

The military rather than scientists are in charge and their mission is led by an uncompromising colonel (Fedor Bondarchuk).

He drafts in a young doctor (Oksana Akinshina) whose career is in jeopardy because of her controversial methods which colonel deems a perfect fit for such an unusual and dangerous situation.

Akinshina's character Tatiana is unsmiling and independent. She is a cool problem-solver who quickly realises that she is only being given a fraction of the information she needs.

However, when she finds out the truth it is very hard to swallow.

Sputnik is a (literally) very dark thriller which is almost entirely set in an underground bunker.

It has clear parallels to Alien and the creature which emerged from John Hurt's chest during Ridley Scott's famous movie.

However, it has enough original strands to stand-alone thanks to the complexity of the relationships between the humans and that with the alien.

Akinshina, Fyodorov,  Bondarchuk and Anton Vasilev excel as those at the forefront of decision-making but the name we should remember most is that of first-time director, Abramenko.

He maintains a flow which keeps his audience on edge and, although there is gore, he doesn't rely on it.

Indeed, psychology, moral dilemmas and even political manoeuvring are just as important.

Reasons to watch: A deeper, intriguing take on the Alien-style genre

Reasons to avoid: A bit of gore

Laughs: None

Jumps: One

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? Helen Sharman, who visited the Soviet Mir space station in 1991, believes that it is possible aliens are here on earth but we simply cannot see them.

The final word. Egor Abramenko: "1983, it’s kind of a strange time for Russian history. It’s sort of a transition period. From the USSR as we know it, as we get used to it, into new times. It’s just a few years before Perestroika started and we thought, in terms of ideas, it would be a great time to unfold our story."  Nightmarish Conjurings

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