Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Effective, fact-based thriller about Mormon kidnapping.
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The Saratov Approach
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What's the Story?
In THE SARATOV APPROACH, it's 1998, and Elder Tuttle (Corbin Allred) and Elder Propst (Maclain Nelson) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are serving their mission in Russia. They're approached by a man named Nikolai (Nikita Bogolyubov), who tells them that he has a friend who'd like to talk to them about the Church. Could they meet him at his apartment? The excited missionaries show up at the appointed place, only to find themselves attacked, beaten, and handcuffed. They've been taken captive, and their captor, the sinister Sergei (Alex Veadov), expects the Church to pay for their release. Propst knows that the Church has a policy of not paying ransom, and that he and Tuttle are on their own. But he has a plan. Nikolai seems a little uneasy about the situation, so if they can talk to him and win his confidence, it might give them a leg up. But more drastic measures may be necessary.
Is It Any Good?
This faith-based thriller is low-key in an appealing way, which keeps it from being too preachy or overbearing; it's a simple, character-based tale that sticks close to its fact-based roots. The Saratov Approach cleverly sets up its two main characters as opposites to generate more suspense. Tuttle is more naive, immediately panicking and fearing the worst, while Propst is surprisingly calm under pressure, his mind searching for solutions based on the reality of the situation. Nikolai is also an interesting character, a not-so-bad guy who finds himself stuck in a terrible situation. (Sergei, the main villain, who sneers threats and gulps vodka, is a bit more one-dimensional.) And the movie finds a most satisfying ending, as the characters manage to avoid violence and rely on their wits to escape. The movie has a low-budget look, betrayed by its distracting shaky cam, which was perhaps intended to drum up more tension in the little room but is mostly just irritating. Nevertheless, The Saratov Approach is decent, perhaps even inspiring, entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Saratov Approach. How did it make you feel? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How are drinking and smoking depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
How does the movie demonstrate action through nonviolence? Which audience do you think its messages are primarily aimed at?
How do the characters demonstrate courage?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 9, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : February 14, 2017
- Cast : Corbin Allred , Maclain Nelson , Nikita Bogolyubov
- Director : Garrett Batty
- Studio : Purdie Distribution
- Genre : Thriller
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence
- Last updated : March 16, 2025
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