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Stalker

Play trailer Poster for Stalker TV-14 Released Oct 20, 1982 2h 43m Sci-Fi Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
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

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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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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 Alejandro E One of the flagship works of Soviet cinema. The plot about men whose mission seems to be heading for failure has something that captures our curiosity as viewers, and leaves us with many questions at the end, as a way of reflection. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/24/24 Full Review Free S Worst movie ever! Very far from original story by Strugacki bros. Tarkovsky maybe is a genius, but definitely not here! Hi turned very interesting story into incredibly boring waste of film! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review Audience Member C h e e k i B r e e k i Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/02/24 Full Review Dane M STALKER, and the book that it's based on, Roadside Picnic, are some of the few pieces of fiction that I would consider "important" to a person's understanding of history and philosophy. They are unique and exquisite examples of sometimes-banned Soviet Russian science fiction that the USSR spent years trying to prevent the publication of or edit into effective oblivion. Despite this, the book and film remain completely intact in their content and message. As a work of fiction, it tells a story in desperately stark drama with deeply subtle satire about the realities of life under an oppressive regime. The story dives into the need to find an escape from a dreary life--no matter how terrifying, tantalizing, or horrible that escape may be. It contrasts the quietude of self with the noise of the outside world. I strongly recommend this movie (and the book, as well as the resulting video game series) to science fiction fans, and anyone who is interested in history or philosophy. It's a slow-burning story (as many old movies are), but well worth the time it takes to watch it. After you've finished, I encourage you to read about the story of how the movie was created and the aftermath thereof; it will surely blow your mind for a second time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/24/24 Full Review Audience Member Takes time to watch it, and even more if you're watching it in 2024 where the attention span has decreased significantly, but the message behind is extremely powerful. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/04/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Stalker

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Cast & Crew

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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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