The first real sci-fi virus movie

Andromeda Strain is a 1971 classic and the forebear of all other sci-fi virus movies. And, as a pioneer, it did things a little differently. Modern versions tend to focus on population-level problems. Panics, quarantines, travel restrictions, international consequences.

By comparison, Andromeda Strain is cozy, almost claustrophobic. After the inciting events in New Mexico, most of the story takes place in a government bunker, where a cast of elite scientists attempts to unravel the mystery before it’s too late.

While the modern formula would background most of the actual scientific work, Andromeda Strain runs us through experiments at a menacingly slow pace. You can almost feel the time bleeding away when it’s the most precious resource the team has.

There is an alien virus (the eponymous Andromeda Strain) crystallizing people’s blood, resulting in near-instantaneous deaths. If the scientists can’t contain and counteract it, they’ll be forced to nuke the facility to stop it.

The stakes are global, but the action is centered in close quarters. You watch the scientists unravel an alien pathogen with (by modern standards) primitive scientific techniques. They aren’t gifted with sentient supercomputers or instant DNA analyses with 3d-models showing helixes as they explain how they “solved” the mystery.

TRIGGER WARNING: they do experiment on animals.

The methods are arduous and painstaking. But you can see the logic the whole way. They don’t have specialized equipment for this job; it’s all unprecedented. They’re MacGuyvering their way to a solution, and when they discover it, they must avert the backup plan because it will actually prove to be a civilization-ending disaster.

All in all, it’s a quiet film. The stakes are high, but it’s light on melodrama. Also, I just cannot emphasize enough how slow the pacing is. It’s good, but as a modern viewer, you’d be forgiven for watching it at 2x speed if you have the option. Like… officially. I forgive you. It’s an important sci-fi classic, but you have places to be.

ALSO TRIGGER WARNING: This is still 1971. There’s a token woman scientist and she proves to be a (mild) liability because of an undisclosed condition. Don’t go showing this one off to your kids as a shining example of equality.

But if you choose to watch it, make a lot of popcorn, and find a copy (from just about anywhere but probably not included free in any service you’ve got).