Sputnik Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Sputnik Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 4, 2021

“Sputnik” is an unsettling picture. It’s a Russian production that’s out to challenge expectations for an alien invasion story, providing a more sinister ride of paranoia and panic without expanding to epic size. It also marks the return of actress Oksana Akinshina to American screens, having made her breakthrough in 2002’s “Lilya 4-Ever,” a shattering feature about human trafficking that promised great things from the young talent. While she made an appearance in “The Bourne Supremacy,” Akinshina has largely remained in Russian films, returning to western view in “Sputnik,” where she delivers a commanding performance as a medical mind put into contact with an extraterrestrial experience that overwhelms her before it begins to threaten her. Akinshina’s part of a strong cast that gives director Egor Abramenko a firm dramatic foundation while the tale explores close encounters and government control with sharp cinematic highlights.

The year is 1983, and cosmonaut Konstantin (Pytor Fyodorov) has crashed back to the remote reaches of the Soviet Union, returning from a long stay in space bleeding and disoriented. He’s rushed to a secret research lab overseen by Semiradov (Fedor Bondarchuk), a steely military man who keeps the “hero” locked in a holding cell, subjecting him to constant questions and tests. Looking to make a breakthrough before Moscow minds start to wonder what happened to Konstantin, Semiradov turns to Tatyana (Oksana Akinshina), a disgraced medical professional who refuses to give in to party demands. Set up to stay at the facility, Tatyana is introduced to Konstantin, commencing her own assessment of the cosmonaut, only she demands a more thorough examination of the subject. Returning to visit Konstantin in the middle of the night, Tatyana witnesses the arrival of an alien who’s made a home inside the imprisoned man, emerging from his throat to explore Earthling behavior, especially curious about the fear it inspires within humans.

“Sputnik” commences high above Earth, where Konstantin and another cosmonaut manage the procedure of reentry with a certain lightheartedness, returning to their everyday lives after experiencing a chance to visit the mysteries of space. The men encounter something while monitoring the stars, with the action quickly returning to Russia, as Konstantin emerges from his capsule bloodied and battered. As screenplay hooks go, this is an awfully good one from writers Oleg Malovichko and Andrei Zolotarev, who conjure panic with limited information, soon moving over to the saga of Tatyana. Facing an inquest concerning her unorthodox life-saving methods, Tatyana is defiant, establishing her as someone who doesn’t fold in the face of authority and trusts her instincts as a medical professional, willing to take the punishment instead of giving in to Soviet demands.

Tatyana’s show of force is catnip to Semiradov, a stern man who’s searching for someone to move past scientific standards and approach the cosmonaut from a different point of view. The first half of “Sputnik” details Tatyana’s relationship with Semiradov, earning his trust with her unorthodox methods, but also challenging him on the troubling situation inside facility, which is also home to prisoners doing hard labor. The screenplay also spends time with the visitor and Konstantin, watching her attempt to crack the man open without fully understanding what’s currently making him tick. The alien reveal is no secret, established in the first act, with “Sputnik” more interested in the process of learning about the creature, which makes brief appearances outside Konstantin’s body and has a specific attraction to fear. Tatyana goes deep into the cosmonaut’s life, exposing a specific shame from his past, and she works to label the monster, which is branded a parasite by the government, but carries a more symbiotic relationship with Konstantin.

Sputnik Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation explores a darker palette in Soviet bunkers and evening exteriors. Darker blues and grays dominate, with warmer lighting bringing out deep yellows. Blood reds are intentionally dialed down. Brighter hues with blonde hair and outdoor interactions are consistent. Skintones are natural. Detail remains communicative, finding slimy textures on the alien. Facial surfaces are exact, and military/scientific costuming is fibrous. Interior decoration with lab equipment and living quarters is open for study. Delineation is satisfactory, dealing with a feature that's big on shadowy encounters and nighttime events. Some mild banding is detected.

Sputnik Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA track features a driving electro score that fills the soundstage during scenes of suspense and exploration. Pounding percussion brings a compelling low-end presence to the listening experience, and instrumentation is precise. Dialogue exchanges are clear, with crisp dramatic surges and hushed conversations. Atmospherics generate a sense of concrete living with echoed room tone, and group activity in labs and military gatherings is appreciable. Sound effects are distinct.

Sputnik Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:03, HD) is included.

Sputnik Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Sputnik" offers more turns of plot and shocking reveals as it goes, answering questions about the alien's habits and hunger pains. The writing is equally interested in Tatyana's presence at the base, facing resentment from male colleagues, while Semiradov beings to understand the mistake he made bringing a curious person with a firm handle on ethics into a secretive mission to preserve Soviet fearlessness and inspire future defenses (Akinshina plays mounting frustration superbly). "Sputnik" isn't a simple creature feature, but it does have its violent moments. Abramenko aims for more of an "Arrival" vibe, gradually increasing wild events, while composer Oleg Karpachev supports suspense with a driving, Zimmer-esque score. The film could use a tighter edit, running too long at 114 minutes, but Abramenko creates a striking journey into the unknown with the endeavor, giving hostile alien encounters a refreshing Russian spin.