12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix viewers all have same issue with 'problematic' film about Chernobyl
Chernobyl 1986 is a Russian film that was first released in 2021 and is now available to stream on Netflix, but some viewers have been left unimpressed by the retelling of the tragic event
Based on heart-wrenching real-life occurrences of the Chernobyl disaster, Chernobyl 1986, also called Chernobyl: Abyss, hasn't quite hit the mark with audiences according to director Danila Kozlovsky. Launched in 2021 and starring Kozlovsky himself in the lead role, the Russian disaster film draws inspiration from the dreadful nuclear accident that unfolded in Ukraine in 1986.
The catastrophe at Chernobyl was the result of a power plant's shoddy design and insufficient safety measures, sparking a fire and a significant discharge of radioactive substances into the atmosphere, resulting in widespread toxicity. The radiation released had devastating effects, causing countless deaths attributed to radiation poisoning and rendering vast swathes of Ukraine and Russia polluted, leading to long-term health issues and disabilities due to extreme radiation levels.
Centered on a fictional firefighter who assumes the part of a liquidator—those tasked with containing both the immediate and lasting repercussions of the meltdown—the movie delves into his efforts within the contaminated power plant.
However, despite tackling such intense topics, Chernobyl 1986 has left many cinemagoers feeling disenchanted. A scathing review on Rotten Tomatoes articulates the dissatisfaction, saying: "The movie focuses on such trivial and messed-up aspects that, as a viewer and as someone whose loved ones were directly impacted, I was genuinely offended."
One reviewer, who was born in 2001, wrote: "Even though I was born in 2001, I know more about the stories from that time than this stupid and boring movie portrays. In contrast, there's an HBO series that I highly recommend watching. Unlike this movie, it actually tries to take a tragic event and explain it properly. This movie is an embarrassment-one that never should have existed.", reports the Express.
However, a critic had mixed feelings, saying: "A flawed movie that tries to tell a personal tale surrounded by a large tragedy. There are some moving moments, but the lack of strong characters is noticeable."
On the other hand, some viewers have praised the film's accuracy. One review reads: "The film recounts the events from the normal and apparently peaceful perspective of a common citizen of Chernobyl at that time, which highlights the innocence of the inhabitants of that town before the event and their being totally oblivious to the government decisions that caused the catastrophe. Everything is well planned: the immersion in the time, the planes, the special effects, the frustration, the uncertainty and, above all, the political situation of the Soviet Union."
Prior to tackling this challenging topic, Danila Kozlovsky was best known in Europe for his roles in the TV series The Vikings and films such as Vampire Academy and Soulless. It is believed that he was on the set of the historical drama series when Ukrainian director Alexander Rodnyansky approached him with the idea for the disaster film.
Filmmaker Rodnyansky, who had personally documented the devastating effects of the Chernobyl disaster, had long aspired to bring the story he witnessed to the big screen. He achieved this goal as a producer for Chernobyl 1986; however, many critics argue that the 2019 HBO miniseries, also titled Chernobyl, presented a more compelling portrayal of the events.
One viewer said: "The HBO series far surpasses any attempts at storytelling that the 2021 "Chernobyl" attempts to offer, including highlighting the heroism and sacrifice of so many brave people."
On the other hand, another viewer praised the film, describing it as a "great adaptation from true events". They explained: "I know it's hard to create these adaptations; trying to find the balance between reality and making something palatable for a series can be very difficult. Chernobyl accomplishes this without losing sight of the truth. Their presentation of the material is honest and open and does not spend its time budget on needless dramatics to make its point."
The film Chernobyl: 1986 is now available to stream on Netflix.
