Novel Corona Virus, COVID-19, doesn’t seem to be slowing down yet. With its special characteristics, it seems to be mutating fast. While this is highly concerning, what is more concerning is how it has captured the imagination of the population. Virus spreads faster through WhatsApp, as the joke goes. Thanks to WHO, international travel has been curtailed in most of the companies which has resulted in many big guys twiddling their thumbs. One MNC has gone to the extent of requesting its employees from all their India sites to WFH (Work from Home) for a week post identifying 2 H1N1 infection in their Bangalore campus. Cough or Sneeze, you are advised to stay away from office and WFH. With more time in hand, no wasting of time in cafeteria or breakrooms, what else to do than binge on Netflix and Prime. If you are done with Narcos, Sex Education, Fleabag, I have a list of movies based on virus attacks to go with the times. In the order of most liked to better to die of the virus. Enjoy while the forced WFH lasts!!
- Contagion: Closer to reality and well made. Scarier than other virus attack movies for its simple message, all it takes is a simple handshake for the virus to spread. You can end up dead because of a handshake? Ambitious in its scope, movie packs in so many details, science, pseudo-science, power of information, social order meltdown and chaos, class divide, etc. We get to see people taking extraordinary risks to save the humanity, for doing the right thing. High profile people being held hostage to get the vaccine. Vaccine allocation decided based on a birthday lottery, which means you may end up waiting for a year. Each of this thread can spawn a separate movie. To me it felt like reading a PKD short story packed with sci-fi ideas. Next time think twice before you stretch your hands for a handshake.
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- 28 days later: Imagine this. You wake up in a hospital bed few days after passing out in an accident, 28 days later to be precise, and find that no one is around, city seems to be dead with empty roads, broken cars and buses, leaflets warning the population. There is an eerie silence. First 15-20 mts of the movie is pure cinema where Jim walks around the city trying to make sense of the situation. Movie broke few conventions too from the regular Hollywood fare. Well made horror suspense drama and I loved the background score, especially the final rampage run. A Must watch.
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- Children of Men: Even though the story happens in future, the issues film tackles are from today. In 2027, humans have been incapable of reproducing for eighteen years for an unknown reason, meaning the imminent extinction of the species. Rest of the world has descended in to chaos except Britain the only remaining civilized society on the planet. To control the immigration, Britain has become a police state, civil liberties curtailed, and immigrants forced in to refugee camps. In this tyrannical world, Theo, a journalist with connections, agrees to help transport a black woman who has become miraculously pregnant, to a sanctuary. Director Alfonso Cuaron effectively uses the premise to demonstrate what the world would be like if humans stopped reproducing. Movie is fine piece of thriller with breathtaking mix of action pieces and intense moments.
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- Rise of the Planet of Apes: Virus attack is not the main focus of the movie, but it does set the foundation for this engaging movie series. First of the 3-part series, one of the few series where sequels were also equally good. For those interested in evolution, movie does toy around formation of society, hierarchy, language development etc. seamlessly integrating them in to the story. Last 20-30mts action stretch is just pure adrenaline rush. My favorite though is the stretch where Ceaser speaks its first word No. Beautifully staged and I get goosebumps every time I watch it. That scene would be my poster for any protest and dissent. A fine film.
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- Virus: Mollywood version of Contagion. Based on Nipah Virus. Story focuses on how doctors, nurses, Collector, health minister, rise to the occasion to control the spread of virus taking risks. While the movie progresses like a procedural investigation, the director does a brilliant job of giving us back stories of few characters, their personal struggles, that makes us feel for them. I have only appreciation for the director for packing so many details and moments in 2.5 hours maintaining a fast pace. There are so many things that worked just right in the movie, rather than calling them out here I would urge you to watch the movie.
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- Doomsday: Movie has a great premise. A lethal virus spreads through Scotland killing millions. To contain the spread, whole Scotland is brute fully quarantined leaving them on their own. Fast forward 25 years. Same virus shows up in London and they need to find a cure. What other best place to find a cure than among survivors of Scotland? Find a bunch of elite specialists. Add a bad-ass heroine. Mix your favorite scenes from Mad-Max series, 28 days later, and post-apocalyptic movies. Pull in Malcolm McDowell. Make the movie more bloody, bloodier than earlier movies. You get Doomsday!! A C-grade grindhouse sci-fi horror film that is so bad it is so exciting to watch!! I am not kidding. But be forewarned, this movie is not for everyone. Of course, you can always read too much in to the movie, just replace virus quarantine with any other divide, religion, caste, race, and movie still works!!
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- Outbreak: A deadly virus gets imported from Africa through a monkey the man who handled it picks up the virus and it starts spreading in Boston and California. Rest of the movie is how the Army doctors try to contain it and their race against time. It is typical Hollywood thriller. Compared to above movies, this movie has nothing new to offer, but what goes for the movie is the great cast of Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland, and Morgan Freeman, who carry the movie. Of course, you do wonder what Morgan Freeman is doing in this movie, he has nothing much to do except giving a silly clue to Daniels character towards the climax. Credit to director Wolfgang Peterson who makes a predictable thriller engaging to watch.
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- 7-Aum Arivu: How can we leave Kollywood behind? This movie follows the mass formula to nauseating level. Take a serious issue to sell a star vehicle? Check. Sprinkle dialogues about greatness of Tamil, Srilankan Tamils with no context? Check. Talk about struggling farmers? Don’t remember but I am sure it is there somewhere. Too many flying cars accounts for an expensive action sequence? Double check. Light dose of science mixed with heavy dose of pseudo-science? Triple check. Obligatory Message? Yes. Obligatory PSA at the end? Yes. Movie starts with a great promise and loses steam halfway through. You wish virus has succeeded in killing all of us.
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Great thing about movies like Children of Men or Rise of the Planet of the Apes is that the template will work for any current social ills too. Replace Apes with oppressed caste, and you get a movie like Asuran. Who gets the citizenship or who gets to immigrate, the issues find resonance in Children of Men.
If you still have time left, check out Resident Evil series about evil Umbrella corporation, The Hive that holds the virus, zombies, and yes Milla Jovovich. It is always fun to watch the beautiful Milla Jovivich, kick various forms of Zombie butts and Men’s ass.
I am sure I have missed a bunch of other interesting virus attack movies. Feel free to add your suggestions in comments section.
Link to Part 2: COVID, WFH and Virus Attach Movies – Part 2