Stalkeris a Soviet sci-fi art house film directed by Tarkovsky and is a loose adaptation ofArkadyandBoris Strugatsky’snovelRoadside Picnic.
Despite its grand reputation, the film was released in 1979 to middling reviews.
At the time, most critics and audiences found Tarkovsky’s work to be slow and dull.
Image via Goskino
The film ultimately does fall into the sci-fi genre, but here, there’snothing too fantastical about it.
Today, curious minds can stream the movie for free on YouTube.
With this accessibility, the door toStalkeris wide open and waiting for you to enter.
Image via Goskino
NotStalker, a movie thatcould honestly be considered low-budget, considering the way other sci-fi films are made.
What Is the Meaning Behind ‘Stalker’?
Those who are new toStalkershould anticipate a very heady film though.
That being said, if you are, you’ll find a movie that endlessly unravels itself.
Itshines a spotlight on the emotional and psychological landscapes of the peoplewithin it.
To get his message across,Tarkovskyuses The Zone and the mysterious Room to symbolize the human condition.
Image via MOSFILM
Back in 1979 when it was first released, the movie met a lukewarm reception, at most.
Most critics and even more viewers found that it was too much of aslowburnand too philosophical for their tastes.
Despite its shaky reception,Stalkergradually gained traction over the years.
Image via MOSFILM
Its hugest fans were people who appreciated and understood its deeper, more existential themes.
What Movies Did ‘Stalker’ Influence?
: Shadow of Chernobylbeing loosely based on both the film and the novel Roadside Picnic.
Image via Paramount Pictures
A guide leads two men through an area known as the Zone to find a room that grants wishes.
Stalkeris currently available to watch for free on YouTube in the U.S.
WATCH ON YOUTUBE
