THE world is not the way it used to be. Countries are under lockdown, social distancing is the new norm, and most of us wear a face mask each time we step out in public. In 2020, we are in the midst of a pandemic, and what was once depicted in dystopian novels and movies has become our new reality.
These five movies listed here captures the spirit of the times:
1) Outbreak (1995)
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Actors: Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo and Morgan Freeman
A cute little monkey is smuggled into the United States, and it brings a virus into a small town. A group of doctors race against time to search for a cure. Good performances and a solid script make this movie really enjoyable.
2) 28 Days Later (2002)
Director: Danny Boyle
Stars: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris and Christopher Eccleston
A man wakes up from a coma to find himself in a deserted London city. The worst is not over. There is a group of zombie-like humans who want to eat him alive. The story of his survival will keep you on the edge of your seat, and Murphy gives a compelling performance as a man trying to understand what is happening around him.
3) Contagion (2011)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Scott Z. Burns
Stars: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Jude Law
Beth Emhoff dies from a simple flu after a business trip to Hong Kong. Then her son dies a few days later, while her husband Mitch seems to be fine, beginning a saga of deadly infection throughout the world. Everyone is fighting for survival. The movie has so many similarities to what we are facing today. Damon gives a touching performance as a man who loses his wife and son.
4) Deranged ( 2012)
Director: Jeong-woo Park
Stars: Myung-Min Kim, Jung-hee Moon and Dong-wan Kim
A series of dead bodies floating in the river sparks hysteria. Things get more gruesome when the police commissioner sees CCTV footage of people jumping into the water as if they are possessed, and drowning themselves.
This South Korean medical thriller has a shocking twist where you will learn that some diseases are man-made, and how some organisations will go to any length to profit from people’s misery.
5) Carriers (2009)
Directors: David Pastor and Àlex Pastor
Actors: Chris Pine, Piper Perabo and Lou Taylor Pucci
An infectious virus has killed most of the world’s population. A group of young people decide to head to an isolated beach where they can wait for the viral pandemic to end. Their journey to the beach is filled with dangerous adventures.
This slow burn movie has some dark moments. You will see the worst of human behaviour during a crisis. You will learn how some can lose human kindness when dealing with a life and death situation.
