'Slingshot' Reviews: "No matter how much it committed to the maneuvers it was throwing at us, Slingshot can’t quite hit the mark in the way it needs to and itself just drifts away"

         On August 30, 2024, Bleecker Street released 'Slingshot', which has received a mixed reception from critics, currently holding at 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, "an elite trio of astronauts aboard a years-long, possibly compromised mission to Saturn's moon Titan. As the team gears up for a highly dangerous slingshot maneuver that will either catapult them to Titan or into deep space, it becomes increasingly difficult for one astronaut to maintain his grip on reality." The ensemble cast includes Casey Affleck, Laurence Fishburne, Emily Beecham, and Tomar Capon. But what did the critics say?

        Chase Hutchinson of Collider writes, "No matter how much it committed to the maneuvers it was throwing at us, Slingshot can’t quite hit the mark in the way it needs to and itself just drifts away." Adding, "Slingshot is more of a murky mystery where the big revelations don't hold up under scrutiny. Namely, there becomes a question about how much what’s happening can be trusted. The film invites such skepticism right out of the gate as we learn that the drugs can have an extreme effect on one’s mind. While it certainly seems like John is one of the few keeping his head, especially as he begins to get caught in the middle of a brewing conflict between Franks and Nash, he’s also hallucinating things that aren’t there (namely Zoe) with increasing frequency. Even more than that, the design of the interiors of the spaceship seem almost purposely cheap so as to maybe feel like a sign something else is afoot. Though whether this was actually an intentional choice or more just a product of a genuinely low budget having to make do with what they could is anyone’s guess."

Photo by Marius GIRE on Unsplash

        Avi Offer of NYC Movie Guru notes, "It's a life or death situation, and both of them make a sound argument regarding the decision to turn back or to continue the mission. Director Mikael Håfström wisely grasps the concept that true horror can be found in the mind because part of what makes Slingshot both terrifying and gripping is that it plays around with the audience's imagination. It doesn't veer into an intense, shocking and very bloody horror film like Event Horizon or into Alien territory, but the possibility remains there because anything can suddenly happen. Casey Affleck gives an emotionally convincing performance that helps to ground the film in authenticity and to allow you to care about John, so the very twisty third act's beats land. At a running time of 1 hour and 49 minutes, Slingshot, is a suspenseful, exhilarating and provocative sci-fi thriller. It opens nationwide via Bleecker Street."

        Jordan Mintzer of Hollywood Reporter says, "At its best, the film manages to capture the forlornness and desperation John experiences on his long, strange trip, and Affleck does a good job conveying that tone as he keeps waking up and going to sleep, over and over."

       Alyssa Christian of Next Best Picture says, "It's a perfectly acceptable genre piece worth watching for the performances and, especially, the ending, which might make you think it's deeper than it actually is."