The Astronaut (2025) is a psychological sci-fi horror film about an astronaut who believes something extraterrestrial followed her back to Earth.
The Astronaut (2025) is a tense, slow-burn science fiction horror film that blends psychological paranoia with extraterrestrial mystery. Directed by Jess Varley in her feature debut, the film follows a NASA astronaut whose return from a disastrous space mission triggers a series of disturbing events on Earth. What begins as a survival drama gradually transforms into an unsettling exploration of identity, government conspiracy and alien existence. Anchored by Kate Mara’s emotionally layered performance, the film trades large-scale spectacle for intimate dread, focusing on isolation, surveillance and the fear that the greatest threat may not be from space — but from within.
The Astronaut : Movie Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Astronaut |
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Genre | Science Fiction / Horror / Psychological Thriller |
| Director | Jess Varley |
| Writer | Jess Varley |
| Cast | Kate Mara, Laurence Fishburne, Gabriel Luna, Ivana Miličević |
| Runtime | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Distributor | Vertical |
| Premiere | SXSW – March 7, 2025 |
| Theatrical Release | October 17, 2025 (U.S.) |
Cast & Characters
- Kate Mara as Sam Walker – A NASA astronaut struggling with memory loss and terrifying visions.
- Laurence Fishburne as General William Harris – Sam’s father, overseeing a secretive government investigation.
- Gabriel Luna as Mark – Sam’s husband.
- Ivana Miličević as Dr. Michelle Aiden – A scientist involved in Sam’s medical evaluations.
- Macy Gray as Val.
Kate Mara leads the film with a performance that carries most of the psychological weight.
Plot Summary
Sam Walker returns to Earth after a catastrophic space shuttle accident. Rescued and placed under quarantine, she struggles to remember what truly happened during the mission.
Confined to a remote rural house under government surveillance, strange occurrences begin to unfold. Security alarms trigger at night. A shadowy black creature appears in the woods. Swarms of insects attack the property.
Sam slowly becomes convinced that something followed her back from space.
As her physical condition deteriorates and bruises mysteriously form across her body, the truth unravels: Sam may not be entirely human. Through telepathic contact with alien beings, she discovers that her human identity was a disguise after a crashed alien spacecraft years ago.
The mission that sent her to space was actually a trap — designed by the government to lure her alien family back to Earth.
In the emotional climax, Sam accepts her true identity and leaves Earth with her extraterrestrial family, while her human loved ones watch her departure.
Direction & Atmosphere
Jess Varley makes her feature directorial debut with a film that leans heavily into psychological tension rather than blockbuster spectacle.
The setting — a remote wooded property — enhances the isolation theme. The confined space, hidden cameras and underground bunker create a constant sense of surveillance and paranoia.
The film blends:
- Body horror
- Alien conspiracy thriller
- Family drama
- Psychological mystery
Its minimal runtime (91 minutes) keeps the story tight but sometimes underdeveloped.
Music & Cinematography
Cinematographer David Garbett uses dark forest imagery and dim interior lighting to heighten unease.
The score by Jacques Brautbar is subtle, focusing on ambient dread rather than loud jump scares. Silence is often used effectively to build suspense.
Strengths
Strong central performance by Kate Mara
Interesting alien identity twist
Effective atmosphere and tension
Unique blend of sci-fi and horror
Weaknesses
- Limited creature screen time
- Some plot twists feel rushed
- Emotional resolution may feel abrupt
- Mixed critical reception
Critical Reception
- Rotten Tomatoes: 42% positive reviews
- Metacritic Score: 40/100 (Mixed or Average reviews)
Critics praised the concept and Kate Mara’s performance but felt the execution lacked depth and clarity.
Final Review & Verdict
The Astronaut (2025) is a small-scale sci-fi horror that prioritizes psychological unease over spectacle. It begins as a space survival mystery but evolves into an alien identity thriller with conspiracy undertones.
The film’s strongest moments come from its intimate, tense scenes — especially Sam’s isolation in the rural house. The twist about her true nature adds emotional weight, though it may divide audiences expecting a more traditional alien invasion film.
While it doesn’t fully maximize its intriguing premise, it remains an atmospheric and thought-provoking sci-fi drama.
Recommended For:
- Fans of slow-burn sci-fi thrillers
- Viewers who enjoy psychological horror
- Audiences interested in alien conspiracy narratives
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