Sputnik is just shy of two hours, and the first two-thirds are pretty spellbinding. The final act of the film forgoes its sense of intrigue in exchange for balls-to-the-wall, cat-and-mouse action that, while natural, doesn't quite land.

| Original Score: B | Jul 16, 2024

Abramenko is constantly moving his story forward whether it’s through the chilling mystery or character growth.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 25, 2022

The creepy alien effects are excellent and the performances are top-notch, if a little cold on Akinshina's part. However, the film's plot twists don't roll out with quite as much of a bang as they should, largely because we've seen much of this before.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 30, 2022

Utilizing an impressive creature design along with moody cinematography and a fantastic score, what’s presented is an effectively creepy monster movie that plays right into the strengths of the genre.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 5, 2022

It's a little long (just under two hours), but it feels so unlike anything of recent vintage that one can't help but relax into its deliberate rhythm.

| Sep 10, 2021

As much as Sputnik wants to be a gory hit of space horror with a paranoid, political bent, the movie ends up cold and needlessly convoluted.

| Original Score: C | Aug 30, 2021

As with any effective horror film, many scenes need no talk, which works well for those who dislike reading subtitles. Just sit back, watch, and occasionally jump out of your chair.

| Jul 19, 2021

The problem isn't so much that Sputnik is made from parts of other, better movies as that director Egor Abramenko can't reconfigure them into anything interesting.

| Jun 5, 2021

Sputnik isn't as pioneering as the iconic satellite with which it shares its name, but it fulfils its mission with a reasonable amount of flair.

| May 11, 2021

The '80s Soviet setting is novel and the monster is cool, but the well-worn story and baffling late-film twists add nothing to what can instantly be pegged as yet another 'Alien' knockoff.

| Mar 30, 2021

Sputnik is a chilling cold war era sci-fi horror hiding its heart in a pile of guts. It's an absolute must-see for space race nerds and pure nightmare fuel for space horror fans.

| Original Score: 8.5/10 | Mar 1, 2021

One of the best films of its type to hit movie theaters - excuse me, home-entertainment centers - in many a moon.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Feb 26, 2021

Sputnik is a confident debut from Abramenko, who demonstrates a mastery of the genre by paying homage to the sci-fi of the past while also creating something unique and breathtaking.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Feb 16, 2021

Thankfully, none of it feels stale, even if it does more or less follow a familiar pattern.

| Jan 27, 2021

As metaphors for this ugly moment in history go, Sputnik is one of the best.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jan 21, 2021

Though it requires a bit of patience, those who stick it out will be rewarded as this thriller grabs you in the gut without insulting your intelligence.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Nov 27, 2020

Sputnik is a steadfast and dependably gory outing that puts just enough of a twist on familiar material to make it enjoyable.

| Nov 17, 2020

Sputnik offers terrific Halloween-weekend viewing.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 30, 2020

a surprisingly intelligent, compelling, and (yes) very icky piece of science-fiction horror.

| Oct 14, 2020

As the scientist who becomes attracted to her patient, Akinshina gives a strong performance...

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 8, 2020