The Astronaut
The Astronaut (2025) is a science fiction psychological horror-thriller directed by Jess Varley. The film follows NASA astronaut Sam Walker (Kate Mara) who, after a mysterious shuttle crash, returns to Earth exhibiting strange physical and psychological symptoms during her quarantine. As she grapples with unsettling hallucinations and unexplainable occurrences, Sam begins to suspect that an extraterrestrial entity may have accompanied her back from space. The narrative explores themes of identity, paranoia, and the unsettling nature of the unknown, culminating in a significant twist regarding Sam's true origins. The movie premiered at SXSW in March 2025 and had a theatrical release in the United States on October 17, 2025. While not officially rated by the MPAA, it is suggested to be PG-13, with the UK rating being BBFC 15, due to its intense horror elements, disturbing imagery, and psychological tension. The film is targeted at mature audiences, particularly fans of sci-fi and psychological horror genres, and contains content that parents should review for suitability for younger viewers.
Concerns
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film features significant scary and intense content, including psychological horror, disturbing imagery, pervasive suspense, and frequent jump scares.
Astronaut Sam Walker experiences 'piercing headaches... ringing in her ears and fuzzy flashbacks' and begins to 'see things, like eggs floating in the air,' contributing to intense psychological dread. The film incorporates 'frightening scares' and 'jump scares,' particularly in its second act, as Sam is stalked by perceived entities and subjected to a triggered security lockdown. The body horror elements of Sam's physical transformation into an alien also contribute to the disturbing content.
Violence
MediumThe film contains moderate violence, primarily psychological rather than gory, with disturbing body horror elements and implied physical danger.
Astronaut Sam Walker experiences 'mysterious bruises' and a 'strange gray rash' that spreads across her body, implying a physical transformation or internal harm. Her body is later 'covered in a placenta-like material' as her true alien form begins to manifest, which is a disturbing visual. The narrative features 'implied physical danger' and 'body horror elements' that contribute to the film's tension without relying on overt gore.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe film includes supernatural and extraterrestrial elements, such as an alien entity, disturbing hallucinations, and a character's physical transformation due to alien origins. These are presented within a science fiction horror context rather than traditional witchcraft or occult practices.
Astronaut Sam Walker experiences 'unexplained phenomena' and 'disturbing hallucinations' that lead her to believe 'something extraterrestrial has returned with her.' The film's climax reveals Sam is an alien whose human disguise deteriorates, involving her body being 'covered in a placenta-like material' and revealing her 'true alien form.' While framed as sci-fi, these supernatural transformations and the presence of an alien entity could be concerning to some Christian parents regarding supernatural themes.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowNo explicit LGBTQ+ characters, themes, or representation are mentioned in any available reviews or plot summaries for 'The Astronaut (2025)'.
Extensive searches combining the movie title with various LGBTQ+ keywords (lgbtq, gay, lesbian, transgender, queer, LGBTQ characters, LGBTQ representation, director Jess Varley lgbtq) yielded no relevant information regarding LGBTQ+ content within the film itself.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowReviews explicitly state that there is no sexual content or nudity present in the film.
According to multiple sources, 'No sexual content or nudity is present' in 'The Astronaut (2025)'. The relationship between Sam Walker and her husband Mark is depicted with visits, but no intimate details are provided.
Profanity
LowLanguage in the film is described as relatively mild, with limited explicit profanity and no racial slurs noted.
Characters may use 'occasional strong terms or military-style commands,' but explicit profanity is limited. The dialogue focuses on psychological intensity and tension, rather than overtly offensive speech, and no racial slurs are reported.
Substance Use
LowThere are no mentions of substance use, alcohol, or drug depiction in the available content reviews for the film.
Reviews and parental guides for 'The Astronaut (2025)' do not indicate any instances of alcohol consumption, drug use, smoking, or addiction portrayed by characters.
Disrespect & Rebellion
LowNo prominent themes of disrespect or rebellion are highlighted in the film's reviews. The protagonist's actions are driven by fear for her career rather than overt defiance.
Sam Walker 'keeps all of it a secret because she doesn't want to risk not being permanently grounded' from space, indicating a personal motivation rooted in career preservation rather than a general rebellious attitude towards authority. This is reinforced by a fellow astronaut, Val, who warns against reporting symptoms to avoid being 'grounded forever.' No instances of disrespectful language or open defiance towards parental or authoritative figures are noted.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowNo explicit anti-Christian themes or mockery of Christian beliefs are reported in available reviews. The film's science fiction premise does not directly engage with or challenge Christian doctrines.
Reviews of 'The Astronaut (2025)' do not mention any characters mocking or insulting Christian beliefs, depicting sacrilegious acts, or promoting anti-Christian messages. The film's narrative focuses on a science fiction horror story centered on an alien entity and themes of identity.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 15+ due to strong psychological horror, disturbing imagery, intense suspense, jump scares, and elements of body horror.
Additional Notes
The film's tone is largely described as a slow-burn psychological thriller, making it more about atmospheric dread and paranoia than overt action or gore. While the MPAA rating is not yet official, the content descriptors align with a PG-13 or higher rating, making it potentially too intense for younger audiences. The ending, featuring a significant twist, has been met with mixed critical reception, with some finding it underwhelming or leaving too many unanswered questions.
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