So we are all locked down ready for the Coronavirus to pass us by and we have accepted it is going to be a fair few weeks. By now, you will have probably been through the usual Sci-Fi franchises; the Terminators, the Total Recalls, the Aliens and/or Predators, the Mad Max(uses) . . .maybe even the Zombielands but there is gonna be a few weeks left yet.
Personally, I enjoy setting the mood with dystopian apocalypse films that either reflect or exaggerate the ‘end of the world vibes’ that are floating around outside somewhere. So, here are my personal Top 10 recommendations . . .
One of the first dystopian sci-fi films I ever saw growing up in that morally bankrupt era we called the 80s. The film’s message has stood the test of time. A dark, violent and gritty tale of a future society eroding from poverty that is ruled by TV. A society where civil rights mean prisoners get court-appointed theatrical agents. The entire film is a life lesson in believing authoritarian media manipulation. There are scary prophecies in how far TV entertainment can corrupt our social moral fabric. In her 2017 book; ‘No is not enough‘ Naomi Klein wrote that televised US airstrikes in Syria were described as ‘after-dinner entertainment’ at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s luxury holiday resort in Florida. (P. 57). A toned-down performance from Arnie with minimal one-liners managed not to eclipse an intelligent and thought-provoking storyline. Extra star credit with wrestler Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura. To the 3 people out there that didn’t know this already, the film was based on a book written by Stephen King under the alter ego, Richard Bachman.
#2 Escape From New York [1981] 
Kurt Russell’s second most significant film of the 1980s and easily his most adult. Eerie and chilling digital scored soundtrack from John Carpenter helped transfer essential euphoria from the Halloween films. The back story itself is inspired enough to carry the film but it also contains a zeitgeist that simply couldn’t be re-created in the sequel set in L.A. 20 years later. The front cover artwork pretty much screams apocalypse, too.
#3 Original Blade Runner [1982]
Ok, so not technically dystopian but just an amazingly clever PoMo sci-fi futurist film. Although, you could argue that the nihilism of killer androids questioning the fabric of their own reality is kinda dystopian. Worth watching just for the late Rutger Hauer’s epic closing monologue.
Not really an apocalypse film but is it awesome and more importantly, there is a vital message about the rapidly approaching consequences of gentrification in our society. Coronavirus has already reminded us to appreciate the human spirit over adversity. It has taught some to learn to value people over profit and so will Paul Verhoeven’s classic digital age morality tale. Watch Robocop 2 [1990] if you must but please not the 2014 reboot. It solves nothing.
A fairly grim and dark post-apocalyptic road movie starring Kate Bosworth. What makes this one different is the lack of larger than life hero personalities. A banal tale of ordinary people trying to survive in a desolate barren wasteland that is a mixture of Americana and American gothic. Suitably nihilistic with no overwhelming moral stance. There is no great good vs evil narrative just survival and ordinary hope. Available on Netflix.
A charming almost cartoony 80s style low-grade zombie movie attempt ..but without zombies. Starring Catherine Mary Stewart from The Last Starfighter (if you know, you know) it brings a perspective of ordinary understated realism to the end of the world. The opening scenes have this great atmospheric Purple glow over the sky with wide-open landscape camera shots of a huge abandoned city. Almost similar to the opening scenes of The Omega Man. Nothing special but not too bad either. Currently available on Netflix I believe.
#7 The Last Man On Earth [1964]
The original dystopian narrative film starring vintage Horror legend Vincent Price. It still has the bleak atmospheric feeling of abandonment that carries the viewer effortlessly through so many scenes in the film. The storyline obvious to everyone who has already seen I Am Legend but is still worth watching to see how far cinematic technology has taken us. Upon further reflection, there are still some things they do better in the simple low-tech cinema of old. Available on YouTube.
The second reboot of the quintessential dystopian apocalypse formula we all know and love. Remade only 5 years after The Last Man on Earth but with a much larger budget and Charlton Heston at the helm. A similar ending but the 1960s ethos has infected the spirit of the apocalypse. A great watch still but there is a strange multi-culturally insensitive subtext that should really be extinct in a post-apocalyptic narrative. It dates the film hideously. The scale of the opening scenes is still pretty impressive and they have obviously upped the production form the former effort.
It is the year 2020 and everyone has seen and enjoyed I AM LEGEND but I wonder how many have seen the true beauty offered in the more positive alternative ending. It makes for a far superior film. It’s sadly predictable why the studio opted for the more traditional formula that we saw in theatres. The film was based on a book and is the third cinematic adaption made, the first two #7 and #8 respectively. In these opening scenes, you can see the influence taken from Omega Man but more epic and iconic architecture is used to send the message home: The world is abandoned,
#10 Elysium [2013]
This film is possibly the most realistic dystopian film available. The basic plot deals with an exaggerated continuation of our current society if current social and political trends continue. Matt Damon’s performance is somewhat eclipsed by the hectic chaos of Sharlto Coplay seemingly given artistic free reign. A great visually jaw-dropping film with a stark warning about where post-Trump/Republican humanity is headed if it isn’t stopped soon.
Finally, if you have Netflix check out the 2019 series Daybreak – a satirical PoMo take on the classic Lord of the Flies/Hunger Games formula but from the perspective of a millennial era American high school. An interesting take and also guest-starring the original Ferris Bueller – Matthew Broderick.
Whatever it takes to keep you away from the chaos outside
Rant &Rave 