"2012" Ultimate Doomsday, "The Book of Eli" Narrates Post-Apocalyptic Journey, "Haeundae" Super Flood — Hollywood has produced many blockbusters based on the theme of the world's end. Initially, post-apocalypse-themed major films were impacting cinemas and television screens: audiences would see characters battling cannibals bloodily after Earth's extinction, relying on daily survival skills, striving to maintain humanity. Many current new films actually skip over the grand spectacle of the apocalypse. Instead, they focus more on the scenes after the apocalypse.
Numerous Post-Apocalypse Blockbusters Are About to Be Released
Director Roland Emmerich has almost "destroyed" the entire world three times. In 1996's "Independence Day" (alien attacks challenge modern culture), a few years later in "Godzilla" (the monster Godzilla caused by nuclear radiation destroys the world), and in 2004's "The Day After Tomorrow" (climate disasters threaten Earth's existence), these disaster films were all directed by Emmerich. However, this time, in his new film, Emmerich plans to tell a story about the world after the apocalypse. The upcoming "2012," scheduled for release this fall, shares a similar disaster background with "The Day After Tomorrow." The film narrates the story of a family encountering the Maya-predicted doomsday while on vacation at the end of 2012, thus embarking on a difficult journey to survive. In a recently released still from the movie, lead actor John Cusack is seen carrying his daughter as he flees, while actress Amanda Peet is shown leading children in search of survival. Emmerich stated that his new film reflects a darker worldview.
"The Book of Eli," set for release in January 2010, features a similar theme. Denzel Washington will play the lone hero Eli in the film, who traverses through the desolate wasteland of America left behind after a war 30 years ago, determined to protect a book that could redeem humanity's future. The science fiction series "First Wave," set to premiere on NBC in March 2010, tells the story of survivors trying to re-establish social organizations and uncover the cause of a catastrophic global disaster that fell from the sky. In Tim Burton's animated disaster film "9" (release date: September 9, 2009), humans create mechanical beasts to wage war, but these beasts eventually begin attacking humans, leading to their extinction. However, the mechanical beasts also activate the lives of doll heroes named after numbers. These nine dolls ultimately learn from the mistakes of human extinction and defeat the mechanical beasts.
Since 2008, "The Road" has garnered significant attention. This film, set for release in October 2009, is adapted from Cormac McCarthy's best-selling novel of the same name. It depicts the journey of a father and son navigating a perilous road after a great catastrophe.
Discovery Channel Launches Post-Apocalypse Reality Show
In addition to related films, Discovery Channel's reality show "The Colony" imagines that the apocalypse has already occurred, sending volunteers into a fictional ruin environment to face survival challenges, competing for food, water, and shelter.
To understand real-life scenarios after the apocalypse, Discovery Channel decided to launch a reality show. "The Colony" was filmed over 10 weeks in an abandoned warehouse in Los Angeles, featuring 10 participants from diverse backgrounds simulating real life without electricity, water, or contact with the outside world. They must generate their own power and defend against raiders attempting to seize their food and water. Unlike most reality shows, contestants receive no prize money and are not subject to elimination through competition or voting mechanisms.
Discovery Channel hired experts like Adam Montara to assist with the show's production. Montara, a private homeland security consultant, had previously conducted disaster relief work following Hurricane Hugo and the Oklahoma City bombing. Montara stated that although most regions in the U.S. may not experience events like Hurricane Katrina or the "9/11" terrorist attacks, people have witnessed them on TV.
Post-Apocalypse Themes Reflect Real Threats and Anxiety
The emergence of numerous post-apocalypse themed films has very practical reasons because today's human society faces many challenges such as global warming, epidemic outbreaks, and terrorists attempting to seize nuclear weapons. These factors make people feel that the end of the world is not far off. Most creators of these films say that their works reflect anxiety caused by real threats in turbulent times: the "9/11" terrorist attacks, two wars overseas involving the U.S., multiple epidemics, the global financial crisis, and recent concerns about environmental threats.
Jesse Alexander, the writer and executive producer of "First Wave," said, "For me, I feel like I live in a world filled with global warfare, economic depression, and resource shortages." American writer Rob Kutner added that avoiding reality has always been a factor in boosting box office revenue, playing a significant role in the latest post-apocalyptic trend. Because of various threats and unpleasant events in real life, it is necessary to create even scarier scenarios, allowing people to temporarily forget the pain of real life. Kutner said, "Compared to losing your home due to unpaid loans, the arrival of the end of the world is more concerning."
Many Film Scenes Are Directly Derived from the Real World
Post-apocalyptic films have real-world causes, and many of the scenes used in these films come directly from the real world rather than being entirely special effects. A panoramic shot in "The Road" includes an unimaginable scene of a boat stranded alone on a highway. In fact, this was filmed in New Orleans a few days after Hurricane Katrina struck. At the time, a member of the production crew happened to be nearby filming a documentary about the Mississippi River and captured this scene using 70mm IMAX film.
Additionally, in "The Road," the production team did not use computers to create massive smoke effects; instead, they inserted news footage showing thick smoke billowing from the burning World Trade Center. Other scenes came from compilations of the massive eruptions of Mount St. Helens and several volcanoes in the Philippines. This collage technique is both symbolic and practical, keeping the entire production budget under $20 million, and most viewers wouldn't recognize the source material. Director Hillcoat said, "Our idea is that if you're there, whether it's Hurricane Katrina or the collapse of the Twin Towers, it feels like the end of the world."
Most of "The Road" was filmed in the Pittsburgh area during winter, where bare trees and dark skies provided an excellent representation of a post-apocalyptic world. Location choices focused on local industrial areas that had long been in decline, including devastated coal mining zones and an 8-mile-long highway closed since 1969.
Some Films Depict Post-Apocalyptic Worlds as Beautiful
When it comes to apocalyptic worlds, many people imagine bleak landscapes, but some directors depict post-apocalyptic times beautifully. Director Ruben Fleischer of "Zombieland" said, "Everyone has their own vision of what society might look like after a disaster. 'Roland Emmerich can portray it as a great catastrophe, 'The Road' may be the most brutal depiction, and our film captures fun moments in the post-apocalyptic era.'"
In 2007, Alan Weisman's speculative non-fiction book "The World Without Us" unexpectedly became a bestseller. The book scientifically explains how nature would take over and cultural structures would collapse if humans disappeared. Currently, the book is being adapted into both a science fiction film (distributed by 20th Century Fox) and a documentary. Weisman optimistically predicts a world without humans. He said, "Perhaps we are in danger, but the world itself is not endangered. On the contrary, the world itself becomes quite beautiful."
Director Shane Acker of the animated film "9" envisions a post-apocalyptic landscape filled with strange beauty—burnt churches, swaying dead grass, ashes floating like snowflakes. Acker said, "In this toxic environment, sunsets are truly beautiful."