If I were creating a checklist of elements that instantly attract me to a movie, “Slingshot” would tick an awful lot of my boxes. Sci-fi? Check. Psychological thriller? Check. A couple of excellent actors in leading roles? Double check. There’s a lot about this movie that appeals to me.
So, I’m a little surprised I totally missed this movie in theatres last summer. Fortunately, it’s just arrived on Prime Video, and this time I didn’t miss the memo. However, I’m even more surprised to see that the critics were not very kind to this sci-fi flick. In fact, its Rotten Tomatoes score is poor. But after watching it for myself, I think the critics were a bit harsh on this thriller starring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne.
If you’re looking for an (admittedly low-budget) sci-fi film that is fueled by an increasing sense of paranoia and one that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about its characters and its intriguing narrative, then “Slingshot” deserves a spot in your Prime Video watchlist.
What is ‘Slingshot’ about?
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John (Casey Affleck) is part of a three-man crew onboard a spaceship traveling to Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. Alongside Captain Franks (Laurence Fishburne) and aeronautics expert Nash (Tomer Kapon), John’s mission is to travel to Titan and extract vital resources required for Earth’s long-term survival in the face of increasingly devastating climate change.
To complete the multi-year trip, they undergo 90-day cycles of hibernation, waking every three months to check they’re still on course. To reach Titan, they also need to complete a tricky slingshot maneuver that will see them use Jupiter’s gravitational pull as a speed boost.
As they approach the point of no return, John and Nash become increasingly concerned that the ship has been compromised, and the mission is ultimately doomed to fail. Yet Captain Franks is steadfast in his determination to continue onward, whatever the consequences.
The critics got ‘Slingshot’ wrong
It’s fair to say that “Slingshot” was no critical darling when it hit theatres in 2024 (and considering it grossed less than $1 million, it wasn’t much of a ticket shifter either). On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a very weak 38% score from more than 60 reviews. Granted, its viewers’ score is much higher at a much more platabable 65%. I agree with the latter rating.
I’m a little perplexed as to why it was received so poorly by critics. Many of the negative reviews seem to focus on its derivative nature, and while it doesn’t exactly boldly go where no sci-fi movie has gone before, it offers an interesting setup, ripe for tension and plenty of twists.
Early on, it’s Nash who becomes convinced something is wrong with the ship, even with the computer diagnostic systems reading green. Initially, John is skeptical, but as the movie progresses, his own concerns bubble to the surface. And then he starts hallucinating, facing disturbing visions of violence that see his already fragile mental state deteriorate further.
It all creates a gripping feeling of paranoia where you’re never sure what is real and what’s not, and “Slingshot” steers into this extremely hard.
It all leads up to an ending that you (probably) won’t see coming, but there are enough clues along the way that it doesn’t feel cheap. Perhaps most interestingly, the final moments are open to interpretation, which led me to search for other takes on the ending. I found some pretty interesting fan theories online.
It’s always a good thing when a psychological thriller has you wanting to dig deeper into its mysteries.
The movie does have some pacing problems. While it runs a relatively modest 100 minutes (sans credits), the frequent flashback sequences establishing a romance for John back on Earth with a scientist named Zoe (Emily Beecham) take up more screentime than necessary. And the lack of much chemistry between Affleck and Beecham doesn’t help.
Nevertheless, if you can forgive the saggy middle, where flashbacks dominate, and the narrative somewhat spins its wheels, by the end, “Slingshot” comes full circle, delivering some satisfying revelations that will have you eager to rewatch with a fresh perspective.
Stream ‘Slingshot’ on Prime Video now
Lovers of sci-fi (who can tolerate lower production values) and thrillers fueled by twists and a sense that what you’re being shown on screen might not be the full picture should give “Slingshot” a chance. Neither Affleck nor Fishburne are stretching themselves in their roles, but they’re very capable performers and handle what they’re given with ease. The former, especially, is given some meaty material in the third act, which the Oscar winner totally nails.
Is “Slingshot” a psychological masterpiece? Not quite, but it had me engaged throughout, and I loved how the final 15-or-so minutes recontextualized the events that came before. It’s a really compelling little sci-fi thriller, and I’m very pleased that its arrival on Prime Video gives it a chance to be seen by a wider audience after so few people saw it in cinemas.
Don’t be put off by the low Rotten Tomatoes rating; “Slingshot” is worthy of your Prime Video watchlist. But if my pitch hasn’t quite convinced you, then here’s a guide to everything new on the Amazon-owned streaming service this month, with plenty more movies and TV shows to consider.
Watch “Slingshot” on Prime Video now
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