Movies offer us an easy way to transport us to new worlds and discover interesting experiences. With the film-making industry now covering so many genres and styles, why have dystopian movies been grabbing so much attention in recent times?
The History of Dystopian Movies:
A dystopian movie typically shows a future society where there is a huge amount of social injustice of suffering. These films are often set in a post-apocalyptic world or with a dictatorial, all-powerful ruling class. 1927’s Metropolis was arguably the first movie in this genre, with 1982’s Blade Runner and 1976’s Logan’s Run among the classics released since then. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Netflix’s The Kitchen are among the most highly-rated new films in this genre.
Books have also played a big part in the history of this genre, with George Orwell’s 1984 regularly ranked as one of the best books of all time. It’s also filtered into other areas of popular culture, with songs like Life During Wartime by Talking Heads among those that touch on this subject.
A look at online slots reveals titles including Nitropolis 5 by Elk, with animal-based characters ruling the city. This series of games also features Pug Thugs of Nitropolis and Dirty Dawgs of Nitropolis, suggesting that it’s proved popular among players. These dystopian slots sit alongside other games based on classic themes like pirates and fishing.
An Escape from Reality:
Why have dystopian themes been so popular in different parts of popular culture for so long? The simplest answer is that they provide an escape from reality. A look at the Blader Runner 2049 trailer or the first few minutes of any Mad Max movie instantly lets us see that we’re looking at a fantasy setting far removed from our daily lives.
Whether we’re tired of constant news stories about politics and war or just want to be entertained, dystopian movies let us imagine a different world where things are a lot worse. This review of Mad Max: Fury Road explains the appeal of this 2015 sequel, which drags us deeper into the post-apocalyptic society inhabited by an array of bizarre characters after civilisation has broken down.
Imagining How Society Could Evolve:
While this genre gives us an escape from reality, it still tends to offer us recognisable people and places. These movies usually take place on Earth in the not-too-distant future. The Kitchen is set in a future version of London that some reviewers suggest is moving toward a civil war between the rich and the poor. Yet, it looks close enough to the current UK capital to make us wonder if this is what it might be like in the future.
Therefore, these films can help us to understand the problems we face right now and how society might evolve. In a way, the genre is about spotting how the current problems and opportunities in the present time could prove to be disastrous if handled incorrectly.
We can expect to see the dystopian genre remain hugely important. Franchises like Mad Max and The Hunger Games may get more sequels or prequels. They should be joined by new titles that explore the possibilities offered by taking a look into the future and imagining the worst that could happen.
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