Spectral
A battlefield engineer races to decode invisible killing entities before a Moldovan conflict becomes a war against an enemy no one can see.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- propulsive
- ominous
- action movie night
- science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film to be an accessible, effects-driven military science fiction thriller whose large-scale ambitions are constrained by a relatively small-feeling production.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story follows US forces confronting an unexplained enemy during civil unrest in Moldova.
The hostile entities occupy an alternative spectrum, making them invisible to the naked eye while remaining lethal.
Characters debate whether the attackers are spirits of war or advanced weapons fabricated by the Moldova government.
The military must develop ways to detect and confront entities that ordinary vision cannot register.
Films like Spectral, and why
Edge of Tomorrow
Shares military science fiction, invisible threats, squad-based combat, and high-concept action suspense.
Battle: Los Angeles
Combines military operations, alien-style adversaries, escalating battlefield danger, and accessible science fiction spectacle.
The Tomorrow War
Shares speculative military technology, secret weapons research, and tense action-thriller plotting.
The Great Wall
Blends supernatural menace, soldiers under pressure, and atmospheric combat in a hostile environment.
Movie Details
- Director
- Nic Mathieu
- Release Date
- 2016-12-09
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (2116)
Cast
- James Badge Dale
- Emily Mortimer
- Gonzalo Menendez
- Max Martini
- Ryan Robbins
- Bruce Greenwood
- Jimmy Akingbola
- Brian Caspe
- Clayne Crawford
- Ursula Parker
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Spectral about?
- A battlefield engineer races to decode invisible killing entities before a Moldovan conflict becomes a war against an enemy no one can see.
- What is Spectral like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Spectral as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Spectral violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Spectral as moderate.
- What did critics think of Spectral?
- Critics generally found the film to be an accessible, effects-driven military science fiction thriller whose large-scale ambitions are constrained by a relatively small-feeling production.
- Which films are like Spectral?
- Films with a similar feel include Edge of Tomorrow, Battle: Los Angeles, The Tomorrow War, and The Great Wall.
- How long is Spectral?
- Spectral runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Spectral?
- In United States, Spectral streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
