46 Years Later, This Sci-Fi Gem With a Rare 100% RT Score Still Has the Darkest Ending of All Time

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Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1979 film, Stalker, is considered one of the most impactful movies ever made. Unlike most science fiction films, Stalker is a slow-paced, philosophical, and dreamlike work of art that has profoundly influenced filmmaking for decades.

Though not a typical action film, Stalker is a deeply fascinating and thought-provoking movie. Based on the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, it’s a stunning display of the director’s unique artistic style.

Stalker is a Visual Masterpiece

Okay, so if you’re about to watch Stalker, forget what you think you know about fast-paced movies. It’s not really about what happens, but more about the feeling and the ideas Tarkovsky is trying to get across. The story follows three guys – a Stalker, a Writer, and a Professor – as they make their way through this strange, abandoned place called the Zone. They’re heading towards this Room, which is rumored to grant your deepest wish, but honestly, the journey is way more important than the destination.

The film Stalker starts with a certain atmosphere, but the second half truly expands on that, offering a richer experience for viewers. About an hour in, the visual style changes dramatically, moving from stark sepia tones to a wider range of colors. While still somewhat muted with blues and grays, the Zone—the film’s central location—feels more alive and vibrant than the ‘normal’ world depicted.

Following the characters’ exhausting journey and constant escapes, the sudden appearance of color symbolizes their recovery from sadness. From here on, the film takes on a dreamlike feel, with reality becoming distorted and nature beginning to overgrow the artificial structures within the Zone, fully immersing the audience in Tarkovsky’s unique world.

Many films today rely on flashy computer-generated effects and stunning visuals. But not Stalker. Compared to modern movies, it would likely be considered made on a small budget. Instead of spectacle, the film creates its atmosphere through decaying buildings and realistic, unpolished characters, and this actually enhances its impact.

Tarkovsky proves that creating a strong atmosphere doesn’t depend on big budgets or flashy special effects. Instead, it’s about creatively using what you have. The fact that Stalker was filmed in mostly abandoned places, used long, unbroken shots, and hinted at science fiction rather than showing it directly, really highlights this point.

Stalker Concludes on a Bleak Note

It’s difficult to describe the strange experiences the characters have and the captivating visuals in Tarkovsky’s Stalker. Like the river journey in Apocalypse Now or the search for gold in Aguirre, the Wrath of God, the film’s story happens as much inside the characters’ minds as it does in the physical world.

Once the three men arrive in the Room, the truth about their reasons for being there and who they really are is revealed. They ultimately decide to leave the Room as they found it. The film ends with the understanding that true desires remain unknowable, making a fulfilled wish impossible.

A sense of sadness falls over them as they walk away with nothing. However, the possibility of a better future still exists. If people can believe in the next generation and our ability to improve, we might finally be able to create the future we all want.

The Writer and the Professor are skeptical and try to rush things by simply taking what they want. The Stalker, despite being disappointed in humanity, understands that belief is necessary to navigate the Zone.

If you lose faith, you lose everything. But even acknowledging that loss can offer a glimmer of hope. When the Stalker’s wife speaks to the camera about her relationship, Tarkovsky suggests we think about the future of all humankind.

In a quiet, fleeting moment, their daughter subtly moves three glasses with what appears to be her mind. Tarkovsky reveals his message through this gentle action, suggesting the child represents the next stage in human development and implies a hopeful future is possible if we believe in our potential.

Stalker’s Different Take on the Future Didn’t Sit Well with Every Viewer

Most science fiction films conjure images of spaceships, advanced technology, and distant planets. However, Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker is different. Rather than focusing on technology or space travel, the film emphasizes its characters and their journeys.

Although The Zone has certain unusual elements, like its disregard for the laws of physics, the story focuses more on the inner experiences and emotional states of the people who live there.

Tarkovsky’s film uses the setting of The Zone and a mysterious Room to represent the human mind. The Room isn’t just about getting wishes fulfilled; it’s a tool that makes the characters face their inner truths.

Despite being a classic today, the film Stalker wasn’t immediately popular. When it came out in 1979, many viewers and critics thought it was too slow-paced and overly concerned with complex ideas.

Tarkovsky deliberately started his films slowly, wanting to discourage viewers who just wanted quick excitement. While action did eventually happen, it was meant for those willing to think about the film’s deeper ideas. He famously said he only cared about the opinions of directors Bresson and Bergman, which showed how sure he was of his own work and how much he respected theirs.

As a huge movie buff, I’ve been hearing so much about Stalker lately, and it’s clear it’s a truly special film. It’s getting incredible reviews – seriously, it has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is almost unheard of! Critics are calling it a masterpiece, and it consistently shows up on ‘greatest films of all time‘ lists. What’s really cool is that other directors seem to absolutely love it, which says a lot about the film’s artistry and impact.

Stalker is one of the Most Influential Films in the Genre

Since it came out, Stalker has become a hugely important science fiction film. Its influence can be seen in the work of directors like Denis Villeneuve, and it has inspired filmmakers such as Alejandro González Iñárritu and even the legendary Akira Kurosawa. The film’s impact extends beyond cinema, inspiring music and video games – most notably S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, which borrows ideas from both the movie and the novel Roadside Picnic.

Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach trilogy shares many similarities with the film Stalker, though VanderMeer says he wasn’t directly inspired by it. The first book in the trilogy, Annihilation, was made into a movie by Alex Garland, who has acknowledged that Stalker heavily influenced his work.

The connections between Jeff VanderMeer’s writing and Andrei Tarkovsky’s films might seem accidental, but they’re striking. Similar to Tarkovsky’s ‘Zone,’ the Area X in Annihilation feels like a living organism. And just as the Room in the film Stalker reveals the inner anxieties and wishes of visitors, Area X compels the exploring team to face their own personal struggles and unraveling psyches.

Like Tarkovsky’s films, Annihilation prioritizes stunning visuals over a complex storyline. The film creates an alien world, Area X, brimming with bizarre and beautiful plants and animals. These striking images are what viewers will likely remember most.

Both stories explore whether people can truly change, and what that change might require. In Stalker, the mysterious Zone doesn’t offer simple answers, and the power of the Room comes from its refusal to be a quick fix. Annihilation focuses on a team grappling with self-destruction and questions of identity. Ultimately, both stories push characters to understand themselves, rather than just overcome an external danger.

While it might not appeal to everyone, a film as important as Stalker transcends typical expectations. It’s a landmark movie that has inspired countless filmmakers and shaped the science fiction genre. If you’re looking for a deeply immersive and thought-provoking sci-fi experience – one that continues to resonate in nearly every major science fiction film made since – Tarkovsky’s Stalker remains truly exceptional.

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2025-11-29 20:14