Apollo 18
Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego
- horror
- science fiction
- thriller
The story
Officially, Apollo 17 was the last manned mission to the moon. But a year later in 1973, three American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the US Department of Defense. What you are about to see is the actual footage which the astronauts captured on that mission. While NASA denies its authenticity, others say it's the real reason we've never gone back to the moon.
What it’s like
Grainy handheld footage, helmet-cam close-ups and flickering lunar-module monitors give this a pseudo-documentary look: harsh white sunlight on grey regolith, black sky, the hiss and crackle of comms static, and long stretches where the only sound is breathing inside a suit. Cool blue-grey palette, sudden shadows, and shaky, cramped framing inside the spacecraft make the claustrophobia as present as the dread. Its vibe is cold, paranoid unease, the kind that builds slowly through routine checks that stop feeling routine. It suits a late-night watch with the lights off, or a sceptical viewer who likes found-footage conspiracy tales. The pace is steady and tense rather than frantic, and the emotional register stays flat and clinical while the crew's composure gradually erodes. Expect frightening, body-horror-tinged scenes and brief gory moments, with dread carrying most of the weight. This is for horror fans who want a sci-fi chill, not for anyone seeking something gentle.
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