While the title of the new Russian horror thriller Sputnik may conjure up images of the vast emptiness of space, this story is primarily planted firmly in the cold hard ground of Earth. In the opening scene, we do get a glimpse of two Russian cosmonauts in orbit as they set about returning home. The two joke around with one another between carrying out the various tiny tasks they have to execute perfectly in order to return safely. Everything is going just as planned until they see a shadow scurry across their window. Next thing you know, the mission goes sideways and the pair hurdle back to Earth in a violent manner that leaves one of them dead alongside one survivor, Konstantin Veshnyakov (Pyotr Fyodorov). If you were a Russian citizen at this time, you would know none of this. The year is 1983, and the Soviet government is working around the clock to keep the country supplied with uplifting tales of heroics from their countrymen. The reality of the situation is much worse than a botched mission that has been covered up by a controlling government.
Away from the mangled mass of space debris we meet Tatyana Klimova (Oksana Akinshina), a young psychiatrist who has her hands full defending her boundary-pushing methods to a committee who is ready to pull the plug on her career. She seems to be alone on an island of her own making, but her peculiar ways catch the eye of Colonel Semiradov (Fedor Bondarchuk), an enigmatic wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing type who recruits her to assist on an extremely private matter. Tatyana is taken to a remote research facility where the lone survivor of the crash, Konstantin, is being held under intense supervision. The young cosmonaut does not have a clear memory of what transpired in orbit, but he has a very erratic disposition at the facility – partly due to being a prisoner and in large part due to other unbelievable factors. From her first moments of observation, Tatyana is able to deduce aspects about Konstantin that no one else has, but this is far from a straightforward assignment thanks to a companion residing within our subject.
Unbeknownst to Konstantin, there is an extraterrestrial parasite that calls his torso home which comes out every night by sliding out of his mouth only to return after an hour or so. The alien has been violent in the past, but the hope is to find a way to safely separate it from Konstantin – to save a hero would be nice, but that may not be the only reason the government wants this to happen. Akinshina plays Tatyana as a hybrid of Amy Adams’ character from Arrival with healthy amounts of Ellen Ripley from Alien. Tatyana carries with her a burden from the past that weighs on her as she tries to bring a deft touch to her research in a male-dominated world that only wants to bring a proverbial sledgehammer to the proceedings. The movie occasionally struggles to fully define what exactly the endgame would be for the singularly-focused governmental figures, but you get a basic understanding that the good of the country is being put ahead of the individual. The traits that made Tatyana such a good candidate for this role early on are exactly what make her such a major force once she decides to fight back after seeing the institutional harm that is being carried out.
Sputnik is a film with a very tiny budget, but this never becomes apparent from the quality you see on screen. The alien itself is impressively rendered in a way that makes it feel like a real part of this world. The longer it resides within Konstantin, the more it changes throughout the movie in increasingly noteworthy ways. Pyotr Fyodorov is a good match for Akinshina as this character who is oblivious to the major development with which he has been cursed. The two have a natural rapport that ups the stakes as the movie draws closer to the finale. The movie has some very horrific and bloody elements, but where it really shines is the interpersonal drama and mystery that is inherent with the story. The movie really allows you to get close to these characters and root for them as you wonder if they will ever be able to get away from this situation intact and alive. The film expertly builds to a finale that does not feel altogether groundbreaking, but it is executed so effectively that you cannot fault it for taking the conventional path. Sputnik is a film that fires on all cylinders in terms of creativity, emotion and technical achievement. With all of the governmental run-around that plagued the world in 2020, it only feels right that this is a movie that shows up as one of the unexpected bright spots of the year.
Video Quality
Sputnik comes to Blu-Ray with a gorgeous AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.38:1. This is not a film that is bursting with colors, but everything appears very natural from the greens of the foliage to the warmth of the lights in the bunker. The color palette veers more towards the cooler side to fit with the darker aesthetic of the film. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail in even the subtlest aspects. Everything from the smallest facial details to the texture of the costumes is precisely detailed here. Even the slimy skin of the alien feels properly textured when it is on screen. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. The film does display some mild banding at points, but nothing too distracting. Black levels are very impressive, and skin tones are natural throughout. The film sports some luscious cinematography, and that is showcased well here. Overall, this is a really strong transfer courtesy of Scream Factory.
Audio Quality
The film comes with both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in the original Russian and an English dub that is quite powerful. The disc is authored in a strange manner where you cannot flip between audio tracks or turn subtitles on using your remote – it has to be done through the menu screen. The default option when you press play is a DTS-HD MA 2.0 track with the English dub, but it is essential you listen to this one in the original Russian with English subtitles. Environmental effects are a huge part of the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite capably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully enveloping world works incredibly well. When the alien comes out at night and slithers around the room, you can hear it crawling behind you in an extremely creepy manner. The highlight of this track is the mesmerizing score courtesy of Oleg Karpachev that destroys this track in the best way. The dialogue sounds crystal clear within the speakers and never gets overshadowed by competing sounds. Activity in the low end delivers quite a jolt during much of the presentation. Scream Factory has delivered a fierce track for a film that is an unexpected audio powerhouse.
Special Features
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute theatrical trailer is provided here which does not give away too much of the film, but does effectively tease it.
Final Thoughts
Sputnik is an expertly crafted sci-fi thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat through careful reveals and engaging characters. There are echoes of other great movies while watching this one, but the film achieves its own compelling identity through its roots in the country. Scream Factory has provided a Blu-Ray with an excellent A/V presentation, but not too much in the way of extras. This one is a true highlight to come out of 2020 that may have not been previously on your radar. Highly Recommended
Sputnik is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
