Mikael Håfström’s “Slingshot” (2024) is an allegorical sci-fi tale set in the space. After Duncan Jones’s “Moon” and Morten Tyldum’s “Passengers,” it is another film about a man struggling with his darkest thoughts while in space. Starring Casey Affleck in the central role, it centers around an astronaut who begins to lose his grip over reality during his mission toward Saturn’s moon. The screenplay, written by R. Scott Adams Nathan Parker, deals with his emotional turmoil through the framework of a psychological thriller. Besides Affleck, the film also stars Laurence Fishburne, Emily Beecham, and Tomer Capone in important roles.
Spoilers Ahead
Slingshot (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
Directed by Mikael Håfström, “Slingshot” follows an astronaut gradually losing his sanity as he questions the point of his mission toward Saturn’s moon. Suspended in space, he tries to gain control over his senses to get past his anguish.
What happens in Casey Affleck starrer ‘Slingshot’?
“Slingshot” revolves around the journey of Odyssey 1, a spacecraft on its way to Saturn’s moon, Titan. Their goal is to gather a large quantity of natural resources from Titan, be it methane or otherwise, and to return to their base in Houston, Texas. During their years-long journey, the crew is required to wake up every 90 days from their hibernation pod for due diligence and communicate their state and the findings with Earth. They are bound to these mandatory sleep cycles. Astronaut John (Casey Affleck) wakes up from a hibernation cycle to be with other crew members, Captain Franks (Laurence Fishburne) and Nash (Tomer Capone).
During a meeting with the base, they are told to get their psych evaluation done. John briefly recalls moments when he spent with his girlfriend, Zoe (Emily Beecham), but he can’t remember her last name. Nash, an aeronautics expert, believes it is the effect of the drugs they are given. He thinks John will remember more details as the effect wears off. Soon, John suffers from side effects of hibernation, like nausea. Regardless, he must join the crew with their main task: a ‘slingshot’ maneuver around Jupiter to launch them toward Titan.
After a sleep cycle, John wakes up before others and notices a wobbly ceiling panel. Soon, he gets hit in the head, which knocks him unconscious. Franks and Nash find him in that state. They figure some impact has affected their hull, leading to the unexpected damage. However, the ship’s computers do not claim any such sign. Franks claims it to be an effect of a structural strain.
What does John remember about Zoe?
Initially, John cannot remember Zoe’s last name. Eventually, he realizes it is Morgan. He met her at an event related to the Odessey 1 and later joined her during a presentation. Soon, he revealed his interest in the mission, besides his scholastic and familial history. While being colleagues, they grew emotionally closer and got romantically involved. Eventually, John was selected for the mission. However, she was not pleased about it. Later, she changed her opinion and accepted John’s wishes despite a minor displeasure. In the present, John vaguely remembers his past. He imagines Zoe being on the ship with him as he grows increasingly unpredictable.
Why does Nash not trust Captain Franks?
Captain Franks claims there is nothing to worry about the ship. So, he doesn’t want them to abort their mission. However, Nash fears the system has been compromised. Franks’ reluctance to investigate this matter annoys him even more. Nash becomes increasingly suspicious about the ship’s continued deterioration and thinks Franks is sabotaging the mission. He tells Franks about the same. Franks overhears their conversation and orders them to act according to the set guidelines. Still, Nash tries to convince John to set their hibernation pods so that they wake up 12 hours earlier to reprogram the ship so they can return to Earth.
At the time, John picks Nash’s side to be a united front against their commander if they find sufficient proof to back up Nash’s claims. Eventually, John and Nash wake up early to see Jupiter. John backs out of Nash’s support since they do not find enough evidence to claim the ship is damaged. Suddenly, Franks gives them a surprise visit and stops them. He ensures John will not betray him, as Nash hopes. Then, he and John finish the slingshot maneuver. Nash is even more afflicted with paranoia and worries it will lead to their deaths. John also suffers from hibernation-related psychological issues that lead him to envision himself being pushed into the space.
Slingshot (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
After the maneuver, Nash wakes up from his hibernation, unable to get his bearings. He cannot recall basic details about himself. However, he finds a problem with the reactor’s output. He believes they must resolve the issue. Otherwise, they will never reach the Titan. Franks agrees with Nash’s observations but claims Nash used John’s passcode to put them in a difficult situation. He forces Nash and John to return to the hibernation. As John enters his pod, he sees Frank brutally attack Nash, likely leading to his death.
During the next awake cycle, John does not see Nash around. Franks walks around with a gun, worried their mission is compromised. As they lose contact with the Earth, he wants to establish it again. Soon, John has strange hallucinations, and he is reckless. Franks claims Zoe was intently brought into John’s life to check if John is suitable for the mission, and her feelings for him are not genuine. John doesn’t believe that. He also doesn’t trust Franks, who claims Nash is put to sleep and is sure Franks killed Nash. He demands to be shown Nash before returning to sleep.
Was John hallucinating Nash and Captain Franks?
John distrusts Captain Franks, which leads to a violent fight. John manages to beat Franks but fails to make sense of his reality anymore. As bloody Frank lies on the ground, John speaks with the computer to learn about Nash. The computer shares shocking details about their operation. It turns out it is a one-man mission with only John on the spaceship. John’s full name is John Nash Franks. He created these other personalities in his mind to make sense of his situation. John realizes that it is a result of the imposed solitude that made him lose his grip on reality.
While unsure of his reality, John establishes contact with Zoe, who reveals that he is, in fact, not in space. He is in a fake ship underneath the ground. The company deceived him into being a part of trials of the hibernation cycles. He believes her and decides to escape the facility. Before he leaves, bloodied Franks dissuades him from leaving, making him question this version of his reality. Regardless, John decides to leave through the airlock. As he walks toward a ladder to climb out, he notices a red light with a moth inside. He realizes that he is hallucinating this bit as well, as he gets sucked into the space.
Who are Nash, Franks, and Zoe?
Nash, Franks, and Zoe are figments of John’s imagination, which he created to make sense of his situation. They are only his hallucinations.
What is ‘the moth’ metaphor? How does it relate to John’s life?
Before John tries to depart, Franks notes that his explanation for his situation is too plausible—as if he created it to make sense of it. The ‘Moth’ metaphor explains something similar. Like a moth, John clings to any sign of hope or light.
