I’ve been doing a lot of press for DOG BLOOD recently and I’ve regularly been asked about my favourite movies. As you’ve probably guessed from my books (it doesn’t take a genius!), post-apocalyptic films are my thing.
My brain needs some serious recharging right now, and talking about all those classics has made me want to watch them again. So that’s what I’m planning to do. And I’ve decided I’ll write something about each of them for this site: what I liked about them, what I didn’t like, how they’ve been an influence etc. etc. etc.
There are many comprehensive lists around the internet (such as this one over at www.quietearth.us), but I was thinking – what are your favourite apocalyptic films? I’m always on the lookout for new films or ones that I’ve missed, so please leave a comment and recommend your top end of the world movies. As a starter, here are the first few I’ve got lined up:
And remember, as fans of BBC’s Mitchell and Webb know, Armageddon doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Just Remain Indoors!
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23 Comments
I to love a good end of the world movie.
I was influenced from an early age, and straight away I was hooked. I think my first encounter was with Dawn of the dead 78. I just loved the idea of being able to take what you want; of course I was too young to realise the real message behind the film.
Another film that blew me away was the original planet of the apes. I remember being about 9 and when you see the statue of liberty at the end, I was like wow! I couldn’t stop thinking about it all night.
Mad max was another. I loved the first, but the second and third were great. When the plain is buried in the sand, and the kids are waiting for captain walker.
I’ll just list a few more.
Cyborg(despite van dams acting)
Day of the Dead 1980
Solent green( what an ending)
I’ve watched loads more as an adult, but nothing had the impact it did than when I was a kid.
Maybe try Michael Haneke’s “Time of the Wolf”.
It’s pretty hard going but very effective.
How about 12 Monkeys?, or the “tongue in cheek” Night of the Comet?
Invasion of the Body snatchers?
Soylent Green – love it!
12 Monkeys – love it even more!
Invasion of the Body Snatchers – the 1979 Donald Sutherland version is one of my favourite movies of all time. Caught the last 10 minutes of it on TV last week and it still scared the sh*t out of me. That howl in the final scene…
Speaking of Night of the Comet (which is a good laugh), check out user ‘dmk’s incredibly comprehensive fansite: http://www.nightofthecomet.info/index.html
Did any of you see Dreamscape?
In the early 80s when was about 10 I was totally obsessed with the prospect of nuclear war (I was a strange girl). This wasn’t helped buy a man in our road building a fallout shelter in his back garden!!I watched Threads and The Day After and was totally freaked out but also started to think about how would I and my family survive. Then my post-apocolyptic obsession kicked in big time when I watched Day Of The Dead, it was my first proper horror and I was amazed by the whole premise of it! Then I read The Stand and there was no turning back!!
My fav films would definatley be 28 Days Later, both Dawn of the Deads (controversial but I largely liked the new one)and on TV Dead Set. I’m sure I will love The Road but have not been brave enough to watch it yet!
Night of the Comet…amazing that one of the characters “became” Commander Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager! And the Hair…I will admit I had hair like that in the 80s…oh the shame…
Not watched Dreamscape, will look out for it.
Dawn, I haven’t seen The Road yet either, but enjoyed (if thats the right word?!)the book.
The End-of-the-world genre has been a favourite of mine for a long time now. I think my attraction to them is to do with the idea that none of the day-to-day ‘stuff’ matters any more. We are freed from normal society contraints to do what we please and get back to the basics, survival. Whether that’s as an individual or working together.
I too was deeply affected by the end of Body Snatchers and have never been able to look at Donald Sutherland the same way since!
Night of the Comet is, obviously, one of my favourites, some of my other fav’s include (in no particular order):
The Quiet Earth
Dawn of the Dead
28 Days Later
12 Monkeys
Planet of the Apes
Children of Men
The Road
Blindness
and TV show, Jericho
Childen of Men I cam across by accident and really enjoyed it, I dont think it got the recognition it deserved.
How about The Omega Man, 1971? Another Charlon Heston classic, unfortunately it has dated but far better even so than the Will Smith version but loved the original book I am Legend.
Slightly off the wall into zombie-romcom but how about..
Zombieland? Hugely funny and daft. I think it will become a classic.
And already a classic…. Shaun of the Dead?
On a serious note I think another contender could be On the Beach (Gregory Peck version)
Zombie land is a great film. Woody harlson is a legend. I thought Omega man was a pile of plop though. Good opening sceen, but it went down hill after that. The last man on earth is the best version of I Am Legend.
Haven’t seen the Last man of Earth, but will try and get hold of it, sounds more faithful to the original concept. Omega Man doesn’t follow the book which is why it is not higher up my list, but still higher than the Will Smith version which was most definately a pile of poop.
There is talk of a second Zombieland film, lets hope they dont ruin it as sequels often are!
There’s been a great Facebook discussion about this going on – I can’t get the comments to transfer over to here though. Oh well!
Children of Men – what an incredible film. I read the book last year and it’s one of the few occasions when the film was better than the original novel. To be fair, the two are very different. I think the movie is a landmark piece of filmmaking, particularly the last scenes in Bex Hill.
I mentioned the Facebook discussion because we’d been talking about the film adaptations of I am Legend. I watched all three of them in quick succession, and they get worse and worse… The Will Smith film is a foul abomination (in my opinion). I liked The Omega Man because I remember it being one of the first horror movies I ever saw. It’s dated very badly though. The best of the bunch is ‘Last Man on Earth’. It’s closer to the novel than the other two, and it’s genuinely creepy in places.
You can legally watch it for free online. Go here and enjoy:
http://www.archive.org/details/the-last-man-on-earth
The score for the original Last Man on Earth is great too.
I am obviously in a minority as I enjoyed I am legend – up until the woman arrived that is. I thought Will Smith gave a really emotional performance in a quiet and sad way.
I thought Children Of Men was good but I wanted it to better. I thought Zombieland started well but then just got disappointing and should’ve been longer!
I downloaded The Last Man On Earth to my phone. Thanks for the link Dave. I beleive it was the film that inspired GAR to do Night.
Ukmum, I have heard that they are doing a Zombie land 2 which I can’t wait for. I did enjoy Will smiths version of IAL, but it was bad compered to the novel. I didn’t like the CGI or the part with the lions( how would they have survied?)
This is turnng into a great thread. I will be sure to check out some of the films mentioned above that i have yet to see.
arayner, I think my problem (particularly with IAL)is that often I prefer the book to the film! Another one is Day of the Triffids…no film could possibly live up to John Wyndhams novel.
Cant wait for Zombieland 2 aswell.
Film of a book I would like to see would be Alas Babylon (The last American)..not sure if it’s ever been made into a film, if so I’m not aware of it.
Also cant wait for World War Z….if they ever get round to filming it!
World War Z is definatley on, it was announced at comic con last week. Brad Pitt is taking the lead role and I think will be released in 2012!
A book I’d love to see made into a film is The Enemy by Charlie Higson, although its written for teens it a cracking read and would translate well. Its proper end of the world stuff, with all adults turning into psychotic cannibalistic killers and the kids trying to survive in a decimated London, theres a sequel coming out in October aswell!
I’m about to go on holiday for a few days, and am taking The Enemy with me (and I mean the book, not the kids).
When I get back and catch up with all my stuff, I’m thinking about starting a ‘post apocalyptic movie club’. The posts here and on Facebook have been really popular.
Watch this space.
I finally felt brave enough to watch The Road last night, a wonderful adaptation of a gripping book. It was utterly bleak and heart breaking – I had a good sniffle at the end!
Some great films on here.
A couple that you should have a look out for.
Carriers. A US film that follows a group trying to flee a pandemic. Not much in terms of action per se but a great film showing how it might be should such an event occur.
Also, for a historical look at the PA genre, then the 1936 film of the H G Wells novel, ‘The Shape of things to come’. You should be able to find that on You Tube.
I’ve got Carriers on my Love film rental list, looks awesome.
And Dawn, I thought The Road was an amazing film as well; very emotional.
One I’d forgotten about was Logans Run, cant even remember whether I liked the film/series shrug? Anyone remember it?
Logan’s Run was great (the movie, anyway). There have been rumours of a remake for many years, but if my memory’s correct, I think there was some news recently and it might actually be moving towards production. I’m not sure how many people know – there’s a series of books which continue the story. I’ve not read them myself, but some of the reviews I’ve seen have been less than kind… Still, a great concept and a film I remember watching again and again when I was younger.
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[...] the school holidays began in July and my daily writing routine went completely to pot, I posted Remain Indoors – a brief article about my intention to re-watch and write about as many post-apocalyptic movies [...]