'Sputnik' A Review

Sputnik is a period scifi horror film set in 1983 Soviet Union. It opens on two cosmonauts in space preparing for reentry from orbit. There's a flash of light and a mysterious body on their hull, cut to their crash with Konstantin(Pyotr Fyodorov) the apparent survivor. We're then introduced to Tatyana(Oksana Akinshina) a neurophysiologist who's been called in front of a review board for unorthodox methods which she stand behind at the detriment of her career. After she's approached by Colonel Semiradov(Fyodor Bondarchuk) who enlists her to give a consultation on a case which turns out to be Konstantin held in a secure isolated facility, with apparent amnesia.

Akinshina gives a wonderfully intelligent engaged performance with creshendos of emotion that create a startlingly authentic feel, grounding the speculative nature of the narrative effortlessly. Fyodorov gives an appropriately odd off-balanced turn and has a particular and easy chemistry with Akinshina but the film isn't bogged down by a shoehorned romance. Bondarchuk is surprisingly delightful, able to create layers and logic that bring what could potentially be a flat military officer into stark and magnetic definition.

The dark, grim, grimy visuals enhance the oppressive claustrophobic feel of the story and the period production immerse the viewer in this specific but not-to-distant past. It's incredibly effective and if perhaps so elements are somewhat derivative the angle taken on this type of scifi yarn is unique enough to connect and scary enough to thrill.

Currently available to rent on most VOD platforms.

See It.