‘The Astronaut’ Review: An Ludicrous, but Predictable Sci-Fi Thriller

by

Captain Sam Walker returns from her first space mission changed. She develops a growing bruise, constant ringing in her ears, and increasingly vivid, disturbing flashbacks, hinting at a larger, unsettling problem. Instead of being thoroughly investigated, her story unfolds as a fairly predictable sci-fi/horror tale. *The Astronaut* presents a puzzling and illogical plot that culminates in a surprising reveal. While some viewers might find the ending unbelievable, those willing to embrace the absurdity can still enjoy a few thrills.

The film opens with a dramatic scene of helicopters and speedboats rushing to retrieve a space capsule from the ocean. Inside, they find Sam (Kate Mara) unconscious, with a damaged helmet and a hole in the capsule – a mystery, as it’s unclear how anything survived the fiery re-entry. The next day, Sam wakes up in a hospital, feeling slightly disoriented and with a bruise on her arm, but generally okay. She’s happily reunited with her father, General William Harris (Laurence Fishburne), her young daughter Izzy (Scarlett Holmes), and her husband Mark (Gabriel Luna), from whom she’s been separated.

Alien Encounter

Dr. Aiden (Ivana Miličević) informs Sam that she’ll be moved to a secluded location to recover and undergo more tests. Her family can visit her during this time, and she’ll be released when the doctors confirm she’s fully healed. Sam is taken to a beautiful, contemporary house in the Virginia hills, protected by a security fence. Each day, she’ll have routine check-ups, but she’ll have the house to herself at night.

As night falls, her condition worsens, and she begins to have terrifying visions. Her friend, Macy Gray, urges her to keep what’s happening a secret, warning that NASA won’t let her return to space if they think she’s mentally unstable. Strange things start happening around her – the lights flicker, and a strange croaking sound comes from the woods. She wonders if the movement she sees in the bushes is real, or just another hallucination.

Kate Mara as Captain Sam Walker


Vertical

In her first feature film, writer/director Jess Varley focuses on creating a spooky mood and delivering sudden scares. The old mansion quickly falls into the familiar haunted house trope, with a confusing layout and plenty of dark corners for things to hide. While the main character, Sam, isn’t a typical helpless teenager, she consistently makes reckless decisions. When she suspects something is outside, she predictably ventures out alone, despite being a trained officer and scientist, and of course, her flashlight doesn’t last. It seems all that NASA training doesn’t help when she puts herself in obvious danger.

The absurdity keeps happening, and when Sam confides in people she trusts, they dismiss her worries as unimportant. Their casual reactions seem designed to deepen the mystery. What should clearly be a cause for alarm doesn’t get the reaction it deserves. Anyone with a little common sense would suspect something is wrong, but Sam isolates herself, fearing it will jeopardize her chances of future space missions. This logic, like everything else, doesn’t make sense. Moving to a new location would actually help her determine if she’s losing her mind or if something sinister is happening. The fact that she’s being left to deal with this alone is another sign she’s there for a reason, but she doesn’t realize this. Instead, she becomes increasingly paranoid as the events escalate.

Laurence Fishburne as General Harris


Vertical

About halfway through *The Astronaut*, the story starts to reveal its intentions, and the film asks you to stick with it. If you don’t, the first half feels pointless. This is when the movie finds its strength, finally answering the questions it’s raised. The core of the story is Sam’s relationship with her father, which changes how you understand everyone’s motivations. It feels familiar, as Kate Mara and Laurence Fishburne have played similar roles before – Mara in the 2015 *Fantastic Four*, and Fishburne in *The Signal*. Getting into specifics would spoil the plot, but there are definitely echoes of other stories. However, the climax is completely unexpected and over-the-top, making the film worthwhile if you’re willing to embrace its silliness.

Varley makes the most of a small-scale setting in *The Astronaut*. The film largely unfolds within and around a house, and clever editing and lighting effectively create suspense, even with some weaknesses in the script. While the scares rely on familiar musical cues, the portrayal of the main character’s declining mental and physical state is compelling and makes you root for her. The actress delivers a strong performance, adding depth whenever the film needs it. If you don’t dwell on the specifics, the ending offers a satisfying surprise.

The film, *The Astronaut*, is a production by The Wonder Company and Grinder Monkey. It will be in theaters October 17th, distributed by Vertical.

Read More

2025-10-18 00:26