8/29/20 - Sputnik (2020) - 5/10

A smooth and classy seemingly decent budgeted Russian sci-fi that has a serious half of a problem. It is an extremely solid start, with much of the first half of the film being an engrossing science fiction thriller, filled with intrigue and horror. But the 2nd half of the film completely loses me. I have no rationalization for the main characters actions or aims. It seems to go against any standard logic. There is a relationship at the heart of the this film that has no basis in development and is nonsensical. As the final pieces of a standard action journey fall into place, there is an abrupt and quizzical “turn it on it’s head”. And the kicker: this bizarre and puzzling orphan who fights and will save another orphan clunky bs. WHY?

 Oksanna Akinshina does a fine job. Easily vacillating between cold science, warm caring, deep pathos, and action packed rebellious endurance, she holds the film together. Well her, and the creature design and execution. We are given the creature fairly early, not shying away from showing it, but it is effective and remains disturbingly dangerous throughout.

 I was into this film and kept wanting to like it, but it takes a Sunshine-esque turn; less in the genre mashup but in the “good descends to bad” sense. This had the makings of exciting and horrific, but I honestly can’t decipher what the end product we are left with was. What was its theme? What was it trying to say? Can anyone explain the logic behind any of these characters actions? Too many questions with the only answer being it wasn’t as good as it could have been.