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The relationship between movies and culture entails a complicated dynamic in that films influence the mass culture that consumes them, playing an integral part in our value system, reflecting its prevailing concerns, attitudes, and beliefs. Watching movies can help us escape our everyday lives, allowing us to forget about our worries and immerse ourselves in another world. Escaping reality through motion pictures is common and has been around for some time. Cinematic productions offer an outlet to explore various themes and emotions that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. The gang from South Park, known for its satirical humor, has proven adept at predicting the future. Fiction became fact.
Some themes come and go, while others remain. It seems that optimistic and life-affirming films have faded away, only to be replaced by movies that tell us much about what scares us as a society and what we think is important or worth saving. Even if the world doesn’t come to an end, it will most likely turn into a dystopia. i.e., a bleak, apocalyptic landscape with chaotic overtones or an extreme, centralized power that controls the population. Variations of this theme center around the cold detachment of artificial intelligence or the destructive power of nuclear energy, hazardous material, etc.
If you’re in the mood for a sensational movie about a dystopian society that makes you question human nature, please continue reading to find out our top picks.
Joker: Folie À Deux
The Joker is one of the most terrifying comic book characters ever created, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that he’s been the subject of multiple on-screen adaptations in film and television. We can all remember the chilling portrayals of the Joker by Heath Ledger in Joker (The Dark Night) and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker (2019). Joker: Folie À Deux will bring back the character we all know and love, tapping into the fear of insanity. The Joker, Batman’s most dangerous adversary, is a very complex character presenting a rich psychological tapestry, often described as the portrait of mental disease, insanity, and irrationality.
The DC Comics character of the Joker was created by Bill Finger, Bon Kane, and Jerry Robinson, making its debut in Batman Nº 1 (1940). Not much is known about the sequel to Todd Phillips’ film Joker (2019), which is scheduled to be released in the United States in October 2024 by Warner Bros. Filming is mainly carried out in Los Angeles and the amount of time between production being completed and the movie’s release date hints that many special effects will be added. Joaquin Phoenix reprises the role of the Joker, who suffers from maniacal laughter he can’t control, and Lady Gaga joins the follow-up as Harley Quinn.
Alien: Romulus
The Alien franchise is getting a big screen makeover, so fans are excited. Alien: Romulus is expected to be launched in August 2024 by 20th Century Studios, returning to the series’ roots, and if you’re looking to get into the mood, watch all the productions featuring Xemorphs. The alien represents the fear of the unknown, the fear of what philosophers call the Other. The crew of the Nostromo shifts from the warmth and safety of the ship to a hostile moon with torrential winds; they can’t find a way to kill the seemingly indestructible alien creature whose very sight is paralyzing. Cosmic horror is about something that’s beyond aliens, monsters, and UFOs.
Dune: Part Two
In 2024, cinema will explore the distant future in the feudal interstellar society of Dune, where various seats of power control the planetary fiefs. The film is an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel Dune, which focuses on the competing factions of the intergalactic conflict set thousands of years into the future on the planet Arrakis. There’s something for everyone in this movie filled with violence, power, and fate. The first part of Denis Villeneuve’s movie was cordially greeted, and the same thing will happen with the release of Part Two in November. The cast will comprise big names like Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Javier Bardem, to name a few.
Dune: Part Two will pick up where the previous one left off, namely Paul Atreides’s rise to power and his defiance towards Emperor Shaddam IV. Like all great movies, Dune abounds in hidden details, motifs, and messages. For example, Paul keeps seeing the desert mouse, native to the world of Arrakis, a tenacious survivor and well-respected by the Fremen tribes. The desert mouse is a symbol of hope and endurance, but if you take the time to read the novel, you’ll undoubtedly discover it means much more than that, inspiring the name Muad’dib that Paul later chooses.
Poor Creature
Frankenstein is one of the best-known monsters in the history of motion pictures, with more than 65 films featuring everyone’s favorite character. Just so you know, Frankenstein isn’t Mary Shelley’s creature; it’s the name of the intelligent and ambitious scientist who endeavors to defy nature. It could be argued that Frankenstein is the real “monster,” and, by extension, the book is an exploration of humankind and monstrosity. Yorgos Lanthimos revisits the legend of Frankenstein in Poor Creature, which is set to be one of the best productions of this year. It’s a gender-swapped retelling of Mary Shelley’s novel.
Final Remarks
At times, the world can be a pretty scary place. Climate change, political instability, and cultural turmoil are here to stay, and it’s a lot to process. Feeling overwhelmed is a natural reaction to the times we’re living through. Cinematic productions depict dystopias and reflections on similar themes, helping us better understand the world in which we live today. Even if the face of the enemy has changed over the years (monster, alien, supernatural being, etc.), one thing is for sure: we’re all in this together, standing shoulder to shoulder.
The fear of the future is present in movies and even TV shows. 2024 will bring about the second season of House of the Dragon, which will premiere in early summer; details about the content of the footage are kept a secret for the time being.
