This Russian made scifi/horror gem presents a unique spin on alien tropes, simultaneously providing a unique perspective on Cold War events. There are heavy riffs off Alien, Silence of the Lambs and the Shape of Water, but with harsher sensibilities and far more grotesqueries. There’s a coldness and sterility conveyed throughout the film that extends to the behaviors of many of the characters, hinted as a combination of austere upbringing and living under the soviet regime. This certainly works for the story they are telling. If the most empathic creature you can envision in your culture is an alien parasite, then something has perchance gone wrong. It may be that all the characters are military conditioned and state loyal, but I suspect there are metaphors and meaning throughout lost upon international viewers, including myself. Despite a language barrier and cultural distance, this film is enjoyable on numerous levels, evolving the nature of the horror at a steady pace during the final act. There is an excellent charisma between the leads, and all the actors overall deliver fantastic performances. The film excels at crafting an atmosphere of palatable dread, even before the reveals. The film is a methodical burn, crafting relationships and personalities before the last act embraces the pure visceral horror of a truly alien enemy. There are some strong and very unique ideas at play in this film, and I suspect certain critiques I might level are more of a result of a cultural mistranslation. Regardless, this is a fantastic B movie, elevated by strong performances and writing.
Sputnik (2020)