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Stalker

Play trailer Poster for Stalker TV-14 Released Oct 20, 1982 2h 43m Sci-Fi Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In an unnamed country at an unspecified time, there is a fiercely protected post-apocalyptic wasteland known as The Zone. An illegal guide (Aleksandr Kajdanovsky), whose mutant child suggests unspeakable horrors within The Zone, leads a writer (Anatoliy Solonitsyn) and a scientist (Nikolay Grinko) into the heart of the devastation in search of a mythical place known only as The Room. Anyone who enters The Room will supposedly have any of his earthly desires immediately fulfilled.
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Stalker

Stalker

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Critics Consensus

Stalker is a complex, oblique parable that draws unforgettable images and philosophical musings from its sci-fi/thriller setting.

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Critics Reviews

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John Semley Salon.com It's a film that challenges us to be bored, while refusing to be boring. Feb 7, 2019 Full Review David Jenkins Little White Lies Yet Stalker is a movie to be watched as many times as physically possible... It really is that astounding. Feb 7, 2019 Full Review Kristin M. Jones Wall Street Journal There are no flying saucers in the great Russian director's haunting tale of a journey into the depths of a postapocalyptic landscape, but it offers visual splendor, as well as mysteries, portents and miracles. Feb 14, 2018 Full Review Dave Giannini InSession Film Impressive work. It challenges us, whether we are people of faith or not. In a dramatically fantastic artistic career, Stalker is Tarkobvky’s greatest achievement, and one of film’s greatest accomplishments, as well. Rated: A+ Feb 29, 2024 Full Review Zita Short InSession Film This is a film that sets itself apart from the rest for subtle reasons. It doesn’t jump out at you as something that is daring or audacious and you do have to dig a bit deeper in order to properly engage with it. Rated: B Feb 7, 2023 Full Review Emmanuel Carrère Positif The opening is one of the most gripping and visionary moments I have ever seen in the cinema. May 4, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Melia C Film Stalker adalah sebuah film thriller psikologis yang unik dan menarik. Meskipun alur cerita agak lambat, film ini berhasil menggambarkan kehidupan manusia dengan cara yang sangat unik dan menakjubkan. Jika Anda adalah penggemar film thriller psikologis, maka film ini mungkin layak untuk ditonton. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Peter D One of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. I saw all these rave reviews and thought I’d be watching a great movie. Over 2.5 hours of absolutely nothing happening. Is it possible there isn’t some deep meaning hidden in this poor excuse of a movie? Maybe it’s just a bad movie, nothing more and nothing less. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/28/25 Full Review Fer S It is obviously a well achieved film, with great ambience and acting. However, if the audience watches this movie expecting something like modern sci-fi/horror flicks (like me) they will be greatly disappointed. I suppose I am not the type of person who enjoys Tarkovsky movies, because this exact same thing happened to me with Solaris. I understand the philosophical and psychological points the movie tries to make, but I believe there is no need for 3 hours to achieve that effect. The ending, while interesting, did not make up for all the time that I felt I wasted to get to that point. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/25 Full Review Evan B Much could be said, but it's best to leave them unsaid and encourage you to watch. 'Stalker' is a film that will either bore you to death or change your life. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/25 Full Review Virgo V Stalker is a 1979 Soviet science fiction film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky with a screenplay written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, loosely based on their 1972 novel Roadside Picnic. The film tells the story of an expedition led by a figure known as the "Stalker" (Alexander Kaidanovsky), who guides his two clients, a melancholic writer (Anatoly Solonitsyn) and a professor (Nikolai Grinko), through a hazardous wasteland to a mysterious restricted site known simply as the "Zone," where there supposedly exists a room which grants a person's innermost desires. The film combines elements of science fiction and fantasy with dramatic philosophical and psychological themes. The film was initially filmed over a year on film stock that was later discovered to be unusable and had to be almost entirely reshot with new cinematographer Alexander Knyazhinsky. Stalker was released by Goskino in May, 1979. Upon release, the film garnered praise in the Soviet and Warsaw Pact press, but only mixed reviews in the West, but in subsequent years it has been recognized as one of the greatest films of all time, with the British Film Institute ranking it #29 on its 2012 list of the "100 Greatest Films of All Time." Here are some positive reviews of the 1979 film Stalker: Visually stunning Some say the film's photographic colors and landscapes are mesmerizing. Others praise the film's striking sepia images and sense of tactility. Complex and psychological Some say the film is a complex, psychological science fiction film that's similar to The Andromeda Strain, Solaris and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Powerful message Some say the film has a powerful message about people losing their faith and becoming cynical. Experimental score Some say the film's experimental score by Eduard Artemyev is remarkable, combining musicalized noise with snatches of music. Unforgettable images Some say the film draws unforgettable images and philosophical musings from its sci-fi/thriller setting. Slow motion Some say the film is a powerfully slow motion picture that lets the viewer soak in the atmosphere of the moment. Masterful mix Some say the film's mix of science fiction and horror suspense elements is masterful. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/05/25 Full Review Aaron D A movie that is meant to be understood however you choose to understand it. I saw in the three men theist, atheist, and agnostic. The Zone, religious ground meant to be respected. The Meteorite, the messiah come and/or the presence of divinity in the physical. The heavily guarded outposts are society attempting to control values and conditions that supersede the mere physical. Fantastically shot, intimately acted, and a film that is ageless, I will rewatch this one day to see it with fresh eyes. An experience meant to be felt more than watched and a journey that feels like you are right their trodding along with the trio. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Stalker

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Movie Info

Synopsis In an unnamed country at an unspecified time, there is a fiercely protected post-apocalyptic wasteland known as The Zone. An illegal guide (Aleksandr Kajdanovsky), whose mutant child suggests unspeakable horrors within The Zone, leads a writer (Anatoliy Solonitsyn) and a scientist (Nikolay Grinko) into the heart of the devastation in search of a mythical place known only as The Room. Anyone who enters The Room will supposedly have any of his earthly desires immediately fulfilled.
Director
Andrei Tarkovsky
Producer
Aleksandra Demidova
Screenwriter
Arkadiy Strugatskiy, Boris Strugatskiy, Arkadiy Strugatskiy, Boris Strugatskiy
Production Co
Mosfilm
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Sci-Fi, Adventure
Original Language
Russian
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 20, 1982, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 5, 2017
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 18, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$258.4K
Runtime
2h 43m
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