I’ve been giving some thought to apocalyptic movies this week. I guess that suggest what sort of mood I’ve been in – probably something to do with a nasty bout of food poisoning at the weekend.
Anyway, I’ve been attempting to find out which apocalyptic movies are widely considered to be the best.
So, I’ve gone around asking friends, colleagues, our Movie Talk fans on Facebook, my cats (strangely they were quite cagey about their thoughts), my neighbours, and some random telepathic dog.
The results are interesting. You tend to forget how many different ways there are to end the world. Natural disasters, viruses, zombies, comets, nuclear war, alien invasions – the causes are numerous (check out this great website for a comprehensive list of all the apocalyptic movies out there). However, despite the broad range of doomsday triggers, not all have made it into the favourites list. Take a look:
Widely considered to be one of the best, and certainly the most impressive in recent years, this London-set movie tells the tale of a small bunch of survivors following the release of a virus that turns people into crazed killers. The deserted London scenes are truly striking, and this one also has a number of alternative endings.
This movie from the 1950s is considered to an apocalyptic classic, and nuclear war (a genuine fear at the time) is the cause of the devastation. It stars Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire and Ava Gardner and follows the fates of a bunch of Australians as they face potential death from nuclear fall-out following the destruction of the rest of the world.
A military scientist in LA believes himself to be the sole survivor of worldwide biological warfare in this creepy thriller starring Charlton Heston. It’s based on a book by Richard Matheson, as is I Am Legend.
Will Smith stars as the military scientists in this New York set version. The Italian movie The Last Man on Earth is another screen version of this story.
Which adaptation do you think is the best?
Starring Viggo Mortensen and released earlier this year in the UK, this doomsday tale follows the fortunes of a father and son as they struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic sunless world where civilsation, flora and fauna have all pretty much been destroyed.
What would you do if you were the only person left on Earth? Well, you’d possibly behave like New Zealand scientist Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence) in this film. He wakes up one morning to find himself alone in the world after a secret global experiment goes wrong.
George A Romero’s ‘Living Dead’ movies are widely considered to be the best zombie apocalypse movies. They’re cult classics, and have of course spawned many homages and spoofs, including the brilliant Shaun of the Dead – the best apocalyptic comedy in my opinion.
In the wake of a nuclear holocaust, a survivor (Don Johnson) searches for food with the help of his canine companion, who has somehow learned how to communicate telepathically. In case you were wondering, this one is indeed a quirky comedy.
Mel Gibson drives at high speed up and down Australian highways in a desolate near future in this franchise. What has created this post-apocalypic world? Who cares! This one is not my cup of tea at all.
However, some consider the franchise deserving of this list, so here it is.
Mad Max 2 is apparently the best of the three, but I’ve chosen a pic of the lovely Tina Turner in Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome because We Don’t Need Another Hero is a great song.
Bruce Willis is sent back in time to identify the source of a deadly virus that has resulted in global devastation.
Global human infertility has seen the world descend into chaos in this British pic starring Julianne Moore and Clive Owen. Unlike most of the other movies on this list, which are post-apocalyptic, this one deals with the impending threat of humanity’s demise.
So there we have it. Apparently, the ones to avoid are The Core and The Happening.
What do you think? Do you agree with this list or not?
Check out this quiz while you decide.
28 Days Later is showing today, Friday 26th March, on Channel 4 at 10.50pm
Mad Max 2 is showing on Sky Movies Action on Sunday 28th March at 11.35pm
I Am Legend is showing on Sky Movies Action on Monday 29th March at 7.15pm
The Happening is showing on Good Friday on Sky Movies Sci-fi/Horror at 7.25pm
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