DYSTOPIAN FILMS TO WATCH IN STREAMING
The dystopian genre has always held a particular fascination for film lovers, especially thanks to its ability to explore future universes in which society is collapsing, freedom is compromised and humanity struggles to survive. Films of this type, in fact, not only offer a high level of adrenaline and numerous twists, but are also able to stimulate deep reflection on the world we live in, posing provocative questions on topics such as power, technology and morality.
From the life-or-death fights of The Hunger Games to the sophisticated social criticism of Snowpiercer, here are five unmissable dystopian films to watch in streaming for all fans of the genre.
1. The Hunger Games saga (2012 - 2015)
Based on the novels by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games tells the story of Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman forced to take part in a brutal and bloody televised competition in which the participants - all from the 13 subjugated districts of the wealthy Capitol City - must fight to the death. The saga, composed of four films released between 2012 and 2015, is set in a dystopian future in which the totalitarian government of Panem controls its citizens through fear and propaganda and stages a powerful criticism of the spectacularization of pain, to social disparities and media manipulation. A real must for lovers of the dystopian genre, which includes among its cast (in addition to the aforementioned Lawrence) also Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci and the late Donald Sutherland and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Where to see it: Prime Video, NOW
2. Don't Let Me Go (2010)
Adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Kazuo Ishiguro, Don't Let Me Go stands out for its delicate and poetic approach to dystopia. Set in an alternate world where human cloning is considered normal, the film follows the story of three friends, Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Tommy (Andrew Garfield) and Ruth ( Keira Knightley), raised in a special school in which the "students" are actually clones created in the laboratory to donate their organs to other wealthy, sick human beings. The film, directed by Mark Romanek, differs from the classics of the genre: in fact, it does not focus on violence or the staging of revolutions, but explores the inevitable fate of its protagonists and the consequent acceptance of their own existence. The melancholic direction and the emotional intensity of the cast make Don't Leave Me a profound and touching experience, capable of making us reflect on the value of life and the ethics of science.
Where to see it: Disney+
<0 >3. Matrix and its sequels (1999 - 2021)
Directed by the Wachowski sisters, The Matrix is certainly one of the cornerstones of modern science fiction. The film features Neo (Keanu Reeves), a software programmer by day and hacker by night who, after discovering that the world he lives in is, in reality, a simulation created by machines, joins to a group of rebels with the aim of liberating humanity. With revolutionary special effects and breathtaking action scenes, The Matrix has redefined genre cinema, giving viewers a visual and intellectual experience capable of combining a profound reflection on human nature and a high level of adrenaline. Its sequels, Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions, both released in 2003, and Matrix Resurrections (2021) expand the dystopian and philosophical world of the series, always at the center is the exploration of themes such as free will, control and consciousness.
Where to see it: Netflix
4. Snowpiercer (2013)
Snowpiercer, a 2013 film directed by Bong Joon-ho, brings to the screen a version of our world devastated by climate change. Humanity, having survived an ice age caused by failed experiments to stop global warming, lives aboard a perpetually moving train, within which social classes are rigidly divided: the poor live in inhuman conditions in the carriages at the rear, while the rich enjoy luxury in the front carriages. Tired of this oppression, Curtis (Chris Evans), supported by his friend Edgar (Jamie Bell) and the elderly Gilliam (John Hurt), decides to lead a riot to the locomotive, intending to kill the train's creator himself, Wilford (Ed Harris). With an allegorical and visually stunning narrative, the film is a reflection on social injustice and economic inequality, while Bong's ability to combine satire, action and emotional tension has made Snowpiercer a true classic of the dystopian genre.< 1>
Where to see it: Prime Video
5. The Maze Runner trilogy (2014, 2015, 2018)
Based on the novels by James Dashner, the Maze Runner trilogy stands out for its fast pace and numerous action scenes , capable of keeping the audience's tension high from start to finish. The first film (Maze Runner - The Labyrinth, released in 2014) sees the protagonist Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), finding himself in the center of a gigantic labyrinth without any memory of his past and joining a group of young people in an attempt to find an escape route and reveal the secrets of a world destroyed by disease and cataclysms. Unlike many other dystopian sagas, Maze Runner focuses more on the element of mystery and the fight for survival of the characters on stage, with a continuous progression of the story that leads the protagonists to reveal shocking truths about the absurd reality in which they live.
Where to see it: Netflix, Disney+
by Sofia Biagini of CinemaSerieTV.it for Filmamo