The Astronaut
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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.
Things to Consider
Scary & Intense Content
The 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.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Ages 15+ due to strong psychological horror, disturbing imagery, intense suspense, jump scares, and elements of body horror.
Good to Know
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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