Apollo 18
Apollo 18
Cmndr Walker, Cptn. Anderson and Lt. Col. Grey are assigned to a secret mission to the moon. Walker and Anderson land, while Grey stays in orbit. As they collect samples, they find footprints...and the body of a Soviet cosmonaut on the moon. Soon they hear weird noises and find they're not alone.
Mike Martins reviewedJune 19, 2025
🌟🌟🌟
"Creepy Concept, Uneven Execution"
Apollo 18 is a found-footage sci-fi horror film that plays with the idea that NASA's last "secret" moon mission uncovered something terrifying. The concept is brilliant—a blend of space exploration and alien horror with a documentary twist—but the execution doesn’t always hit the mark.
The film does a great job building a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. The grainy, vintage look adds authenticity, and the isolation of the moon setting really works. However, the pacing drags at times, and the “found footage” style can be disorienting. The alien threat (tiny rock-like lifeforms) is unique but ends up feeling underwhelming by the climax.
The scares are subtle, relying more on paranoia and suggestion than jump scares, which some viewers will love and others may find too slow. Overall, Apollo 18 is a mixed bag—great premise, cool visuals, but not quite the nail-biter it aims to be.
---
🚀 Behind-the-Scenes & Insider Info:
1. Not a Real NASA Mission – There was no Apollo 18 mission in real life; the last official mission was Apollo 17. The film’s marketing leaned heavily into conspiracy theories, which made many people Google whether it was based on a real event.
2. Shot in Canada, Not Space – Despite the lunar setting, most of the movie was filmed in Manitoba, Canada. Clever set design and digital effects turned gravel pits and warehouses into the moon’s surface.
3. Low Budget, Big Profit – The movie had a budget of around $5 million and grossed nearly $26 million worldwide. That’s a win for a low-budget horror film, especially one with no major stars.
4. Guerrilla-Style Filmmaking – Director Gonzalo López-Gallego had never made an English-language film before this. His background in indie Spanish cinema gave the movie its raw, minimalist style.
5. NASA Wasn’t Happy – NASA officially distanced itself from the movie, clarifying that it had nothing to do with it. The movie’s implication that the agency covered up a deadly mission didn’t sit well with them.