It's always interesting when a new movie swerves a cinema release but also doesn't instantly hit one of the biggest and best streaming services for free. Slingshot has done exactly that, and is now available to rent digitally.
It has some big stars in it, too, boasting Laurence Fishburne and Casey Affleck in major parts as it tries to tell a story about isolation and psychological pressure on space missions. Afflect plays one of three astronauts on a super long-range mission who starts to feel like he might not know everything he should about that journey.
With periodical wakings from long hibernation rests, it's a recipe for loneliness, home-sickness and suspicion, especially since Fishburne's character seems to know more than he's letting on. The above trailer also makes it clear that things will get fairly dark and tense by the movie's climax.
Alongside those two stars, the movie also features a very familiar face for fans of The Boys on Amazon Prime Video. Tomer Capone plays Frenchy in that show and also pops up in Slingshot to play the third member of the crew. The whole setup, as the bonds between them fray at the seams, looks familiar to anyone who's enjoyed Solaris or Sunshine in years gone by.
The reception to Slingshot so far has been hugely interesting, too. A few standout reviews have actually lauded it for a mature approach to its subject matter - The Guardian gave it a four-star review, in fact, which is nothing to sniff at. That's been overruled by the consensus, though, which is way more critical.
Over on Rotten Tomatoes you'll find that the movie sits on a 38% score from critics, but audiences are much more generous at 65%. If that's the sort of critical division that makes you interested in what it's like to actually watch, you can find the movie on a few different platforms. In the UK you can buy it for less than £10 on Amazon, while in the US you can rent it or buy it through Amazon, too. Big sci-fi fans might owe it at least the chance to impress them.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Max is T3's Staff Writer for the Tech section – with years of experience reporting on tech and entertainment. He's also a gaming expert, both with the games themselves and in testing accessories and consoles, having previously flexed that expertise at Pocket-lint as a features editor.
-
Google Lens gets a free update to make high street shopping easier and cheaper
Bringing online and in-store shopping together
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Best Christmas gifts 2024: wellness, fragrances, grooming and more
If you're struggling to find the perfect gift, you've come to the right place
By Lizzie Wilmot Published
-
My girlfriend's fave Apple TV+ show is back – it's 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
Bad Sisters is a cult favourite, and it's back now
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Netflix's no.1 show proves videogame adaptions can still be king
Arcane is absolutely smashing it
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
HBO's huge sci-fi show gets first-look reviews that might shock you
Dune: Prophecy might have an uphill struggle
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
I can't wait for massive Netflix action movie with Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman
Carry-On looks sublimely silly
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
HBO's best new shows revealed in massive new reveal-all trailer
HBO is going big in 2025
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Love Netflix's Drive To Survive? Catch this upcoming series about an F1 icon
Senna will tell a brilliant story
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
After J-Lo's Netflix sci-fi flop, the star takes to Amazon Prime in heartwarming turn
Unstoppable looks hugely heart-warming
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Netflix's new Squid Game 2 trailer raises questions – and I'm already sold
The biggest show in the world is nearly back
By Max Freeman-Mills Published