Stratosphere seems heavily inspired by a specific scene from the iconic 1986 film Aliens-particularly the combat drop sequence, where Ripley and the soldiers experience violent turbulence while descending to LV-426. The cinematography and gear closely resemble those in the Alien saga, with a hint of Halo influence.
Narratively, Stratosphere leaves much unexplained. We learn little about the characters, their mission, or what's supposed to happen after their landing. While I don't dislike the short film, it feels like it has a great deal of unrealized potential-mainly because the viewer is left guessing what the story is truly about. At its core, the message seems to reflect the endless cycle of soldiers being sent into combat by their superiors, treated as expendable resources until they inevitably fall.
