Apocalyptic / post apocalyptic

1. Apocalyptic / post apocalyptic

2. Genre Post-apocalyptic films are concerned with the end of the world, a prelude to the end or the aftermath. This can be the end of civilisation, existential catastrophe (nuclear warfare, extra-terrestrial attack, pandemic, impact event, cybernetic revolt, ecological disaster, resource depletion etc.) It is almost a sub-genre of science fiction and often includes elements of horror and thriller.

3. Conventions Setting: desolate cities, international, landscapes, destroyed land, isolation Themes: end of civilisation, existential catastrophe, ecological disaster, pandemic, resource depletion Mood: desolate, lonely, disaster, panic, emotional, paranoia, reflective Format: changes in pace, long shots, desolate setting, close ups on emotion Stars: Nicholas Cage, VingRhames, Mark Wahlberg

4. History I have constructed a timeline showing the history of films in the apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic genre starting from as early as 1927 up until 2011 releases. I will also be looking at films which have not yet been released. As part of my research I looked at what the apocalypses are in each film and they vary from zombie attacks to comets hitting the Earth.

5. Timeline On The Beach (1959) On The Beach is a post-apocalyptic drama film which was directed by Stanly Kramer. It is based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Nevil Shute. It is set in 1964 in the months following World War III. The northern hemisphere is destroyed polluting the atmosphere with nuclear fallout which has killed all life. End Of The World (1931) End Of The World was directed by Abel Gance and is about a comet due to hit Earth. The film follows the stories of a variety of characters. Metropolis (1927) Metropolis is a German expressionist film directed by Fritz Lang. It fits into the science fiction genre with a post apocalyptic theme of a society divided into two classes.

6. Mad Max (1979) Mad Max is a George Miller directed dystopian action film. It is considered a western film showing the breakdown of society. Planet Of The Apes (1968) Planet Of The Apes was directed by Franklin J. Shauffner. It was the first in a series of five films. It follows the story of an astronaut crew who crash-land of a strange planet in the distant future. The planet appears desolate at first by they soon discover a society of apes who are almost as able as humans. Dawn Of The Dead (1978) A George Romero film, Dawn Of The Dead is the second film in his Living Dead film series. It is the story of ‘the dead’ which prey on human flesh which subsequently causes mass hysteria amongst the population.

7. Cyborg (1989) Cyborg, more unusually is a martial arts science fiction film directed by Albert Pyun. A street frighter who battles after a plague sweeps the nation. Escape From New York (1981) A film directed by John Carpenter set in the near future about New York, which has turned into a high security prison. An ex-soldier is given 24 hours to find the president who has been captured by prisoners. The Quiet Earth (1985) The Quiet Earth is a New Zealand science fiction post apocalyptic film directed by Geoff Murphy. It follows three survivors of a cataclysmic disaster.

8. Waterworld (1995) The Postman (1997) Again, another science fiction post apocalyptic film, Waterworld was directed by Kevin Reynolds. It has been suggested it is set in 2500 where the polar icecaps have melted. The Postman directed by Kevin Costner (who also stars in the film) is another film based on a novel. An unspecified apocalypse has left a huge impact on human civilisation. Independence Day (1996) Indepence Day is a film about an alien invasion of Earth in Nevada desert, directed by Roland Emmerich.

9. 28 Days Later (2002) 28 Days Later is a Danny Boyle directed horror film about the breakdown of society after a virus. Children Of Men (2006) Alfonso Cruaron’s film Children Of Men is set in 2027 and shows the aftermath of two decades of human infertility. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) The Day After Tomorrow shows the catastrophic effects of global warming resulting in a new ice age world. It was directed by Roland Emmerich

10. Knowing (2009) This film is about a time capsule which has been dug up to reveal a number of coded predictions (some that have already occurred and some that are soon to happen). 2012 (2009) The Happening (2008) 2012 is another Roland Emmerich directed film,. A man brings his family to refuge in the hope to escape the heightened change in the elements. It portrayed the 2012 phenomena. Emmerich announced this would be his last film involving disasters. The Happening, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, is set in New York and the story follows the escape form an inexplicable natural disaster. This then causes mass suicide.

11. The Book Of Eli (2010) A film directed by the Hughes brothers , The Book Of Eli revolves around Eli, a nomad in a post apocalyptic world thirty years after a nuclear apocalypse, who is told by a voice to deliver his copy of a mysterious book to a safe location on the West Coast of the USA. Vanishing On 7th Street (2011) Vanishing On 7th Street encompasses multiple genres including horror, thriller, and post apocalyptic. Directed by Brad Anderson, the film is about the remaining survivors after a population wipe-out in Detroit.

12. Hybrid-genre As well as the post-apocalyptic film genre being a sub-genre of science-fiction, it also features in other genres of film as well. A great example of this is Shaun Of The Dead. It crosses over horror, comedy and apocalyptic. Other genres which often use cross-genre, or hybrid-genre are action, thriller and adventure.

13. Scene analysis I have briefly looked at the generic conventions of the apocalyptic / post-apocalyptic film genre but I have decided to look at individual scenes in closer detail. I have chosen to look at a selection of films: The Happening, Knowing and Shaun Of The Dead.

14. The Happening • Scared and frightened expressions • Child clutching her father (with fear?) • Rucksack (survival kit) • Looking up – higher power/status – more vulnerable • Woman protecting young child • Bag full of survival essentials • Green surroundings (escaping destroyed city) • Three shot showing character relationships, setting, costume, prop and expression

15. Look of defeat • Hands on child’s knee for comfort • High angle showing vulnerability • Sadness – not looking at each other • Eerie shot of dead man looking in direction of/down lens • Extreme low angle (floor level) showing defeat • Disruption shown (traffic jam and halted vehicles)

16. Knowing • Panic and fear on characters face • Body on ground, people bent over in background • Destroyed plane and rubble • Dark colours • Smoke and fire (destruction and danger) • Looks like he is seeking help • Earthy colours (browns, greens, beige) • Beam of light creates suspense • Fearful facial expression

17. City setting (typical) • Running (hurry/panic) • Everyday situation • Character stands out from darkly dressed business extras • Oblivious to stares from other passers-by

18. Shaun Of The Dead • Dark, dimly lit street • Main characters facing each other – conferring decision • Smoke, silhouette • Shallow depth of field highlights main characters • Fear, disgust in facial expressions • Blood, dirt stained clothes and face

19. Ordinary setting with ordinary people shows normality (contrasts with zombie theme and happenings) • Shot shows friendships and relationships between characters • Silhouette of hand and figures – eerie effect • Comic – snooker cues for weapons in battle/fight • Blood and dirt stained clothes and faces

20. Articles To gain a further understanding of this genre I read some articles that talk about the post-apocalyptic film genre. These were “John Pantzalis (2001): The Semiotics of Consumption In Post-Apocalyptic Movies – in Asia Pacific Advances in Consumer Research Volume 4, eds. Paula M. Tidwell and Thomas E. Muller, Provo, UT : Association for Consumer Research, Pages 23-27” and “Post-apocalyptic film and the post-modern apocalypse by Dr. Eric Dodson”.

21. The first article I read discussed how the world was “flooded with...forecasts, predictions and prophecies about the future”. It also looked into how a major part of all of these predictions includes the “end of the world”; people are fascinated by it. This will be easy to take inspiration from as it is a common feeling or experience which is relatable. Similarly Dr. Eric Dodson, in the second article, brings up ideas about “humanity’s possible demise”. It is evident that films that use the idea of the end of the world draw from modern-day fears and predictions made by people about the future, whether real, or true, or not.

22. The genre as a whole Films which can fit into the apocalyptic, or post-apocalyptic genre are fascinating. The end of world is something very unknown and perhaps dangerous territory for filmmakers, yet they create films which use these ideas and make them very successfully. It seems strange that something so terrifying can be so compelling but this genre is deeper than death and has proved ultimately very popular.