Review in, very positive. Contains spoilers.
The lack of studio intervention here is plain as day. No standard studio film would go as far as this goes nor do the things this film does to its characters. You have never seen a film like it before. You’ve nothing to compare it to. Nothing but other films that have no compare – like ALIENS, THE THING and 2001. [...]
This film is SMART. Incredibly smart. There’s so much going on at all times, so much to process, and so many well constructed little set pieces in the background that everyone walks out having focused on a few particular aspects – and the after film discussion as a result is riveting. DISTRICT 9 is a film that begs to be discussed. Sure people will toss out “wow”s and “****** awesome”s riddled with the occasional “how great were those special effects”, but that’s all before they begin grilling one another on what they thought about the aliens, the ending, the way the government reacted, the socio-political commentary, the small touches, the death scenes…hell, the brutality. This film is unflinching. It is harsh. And it’s going to send people in the lobby a little shell shocked and dying to talk about it.
This is the very type of sci-fi we’re always begging for; the type that imagines a completely different world than we’ve ever experienced. Despite comparisons, it is not V, and it is definitely not ALIEN NATION. The effects are incredible, even before you realize how little was spent on the film, and the impact is undeniable. This movie is a clenched fist ready to beat your psyche to a pulp, leaving you a bit punch drunk as you stagger out into the lobby to try and process it all. There’s so much (satisfyingly) unanswered that you’ll spend days sifting through what ifs and writing your answers to questions the film doesn’t feel needs to be answered. At least not yet.
Bookmarks