‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ rocks the Indian box office, sparking interest in exploring other cult dystopian flicks.
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,’ a sci-fi dystopian action adventure helmed by Wes Ball and penned by Josh Friedman, is dominating the Indian box office with a spectacular debut. The film raked in Rs.3.40 crore on its opening day and followed up with Rs.4.25 crore on day two, totaling Rs.7.40 crore in just 48 hours. By the end of its third day, it had accumulated an estimated Rs.12.03 crore. Critics have showered it with positive reviews. Now, let's delve into some cult dystopian flicks that you may have missed and that deserve a watch.
Ridley Scott's ‘Blade Runner,’ starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos, is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ Set in a dystopian future Los Angeles of 2019, the film follows the story of synthetic humans called replicants, engineered by the powerful Tyrell Corporation to serve on space colonies. When a group of advanced replicants led by Roy Batty (Hauer) flees to Earth, weary cop Rick Deckard (Ford) reluctantly takes on the task of tracking them down.
Alfonso Cuarón's dystopian action thriller, ‘Children of Men,’ co-written by him, takes inspiration from P. D. James' 1992 novel ‘The Children of Men.’ Set in the bleak landscape of 2027, where two decades of human infertility have pushed society to the edge of collapse, the film portrays a world in turmoil. In the United Kingdom, asylum seekers desperately seek refuge, only to face government-sanctioned detention and refoulement. ‘Children of Men’ garnered critical acclaim, particularly for its compelling screenplay, cinematography, immersive art direction, and groundbreaking single-shot action sequences.
Mark Romanek directed the British dystopian romantic tragedy film ‘Never Let Me Go,’ based on Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 novel of the same name. Alex Garland penned the screenplay. Set in an alternative history, the story revolves around Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, portrayed by Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield, respectively, who find themselves embroiled in a complex love triangle. Premiering at the 37th annual Telluride Film Festival in September 2010, ‘Never Let Me Go’ received a warm reception from the audience, resonating with its profound message.
Directed by Gary Ross, ‘The Hunger Games’ is a gripping dystopian action film co-written by Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray, adapted from Collins' 2008 novel of the same title. Serving as the first instalment in ‘The Hunger Games’ film series, it boasts a stellar ensemble cast including Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and others. Set in the fictional world of Panem, the story revolves around Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, who find themselves thrust into the heart of the Hunger Games. This brutal competition pits adolescent contestants from the 12 Districts against each other in a televised battle to the death, forcing Katniss and Peeta to navigate treacherous waters as they fight for survival and defy the oppressive regime.
In James McTeigue's feature directorial debut, the dystopian political action film ‘V for Vendetta’ unfolds, drawing inspiration from the 1988–89 DC Vertigo Comics limited series authored by Alan Moore, David Lloyd, and Tony Weare. Set in the future where a fascist totalitarian regime has crushed the UK under its heel, the narrative orbits around V (embodied by Hugo Weaving), an anarchist and masked freedom fighter sparking a revolution through daring acts. Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) joins his cause, while Stephen Rea plays a detective determined to stop him.
