SCIENCE-FICTION and FUTURISTIC DRAMA. “The Survivalist.” 2021. / “The Survivalist.” 2015. / “The Rover.” / “The Island.”

“The Survivalist” (2021, Fawesome) action thriller. A woman who is thought to be immune to a pandemic flees from a religious leader and his followers. 



       The dystopian murk is a visual cliche. And the plotline is all about “The Last of Us.” Nothing really happens in this grey movie other than John Malkovich being John Malkovich, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers being angry, like he usually does. 🎥💻📽


“The Survivalist” (2015, Tubi) British post-apocalyptic science fiction thriller. Set after a catastrophic global population collapse, the film follows a solitary man who protects his cabin and vegetable plot with traps and alarms until the arrival of two women forces him into uneasy bargains and escalating violence. 



       Martin McCann as The Survivalist deserves longer attention. He is also in the remarkable series “Blue Lights.” His acting range as explored in this movie, albeit restrained yet remains strong.

       In an understated way, this post-apocalyptic drama is achingly replete with cliches but still thought-provoking and commands interest. 🎥💻📽


“The Rover” (2014, Netflix) Australian dystopian drama. A contemporary Western taking place in the Australian outback, ten years after a global economic collapse. Stars Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson. 



       The involved performances of Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson are the central lures of this wasteland narrative, no matter how flimsy or choppy the plot is. Still a watchable little project from writer/director David Michod. Added kudos to Scoot McNairy, my favorite support character dude, and Susan Prior. 🎥💻📽


“The Island” (2005, Netflix) science fiction action film about two human clones who live in a utopian compound isolated from the outside world. Stars Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. Michael Bay directs. 



       A clone of THX 1138, Coma, and Logan's Run + more bombastic sci-fi cinema derivatives, this movie started well. Intriguing and narrative-based. Until the real Michael Bay shenanigan dominated the rest of the movie's more 2-hour running time. High-speed chases, twisted metals, and explosions. 

       Ewan McGregor and Scarlet Johansson are good together so that'd be the only good thing about this project. 🎥💻📽


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