Since the beginning of life, Man has been obsessed with death. It's only natural to be curious about what happens after. Similarly, we have always hungered to know what the future will hold. In the ancient days we looked to seers, the fall of the bones, and signs from the skies. Now, we look to Hollywood. I don't think we believe the visions of disaster presented all the time, but we enjoy watching someone else's vision of what could be. Romero's Dead films are an excellent example of the outcome that a horror fan may fear. Dystopian and post-apocalyptic films are nothing new, but it seems that we have had more than our share of late. The History Channel has even jumped on board with series like “Life After People” and various others showcased during Armageddon Week. What is it that has society so concerned with our world crumbling before our eyes to reveal an existence rife with hardship and danger? Perhaps it is the looming Mayan prediction of 2012 (as one of last year's biggest films suggests), or maybe it's the current state of world affairs. Whatever the reason, we've had quite a few to start this year as well as many toward the end of last and it doesn't look like it'll be slowing down anytime soon.

In 2009, Zombieland gave us a fanciful and lighthearted glimpse of a world overrun with zombies and the rules that would be necessary to survive. Carriers had rules as well, but the tone was quite the opposite of the former. In both, the survivors are forced to face harsh realities. They must come to terms with the fact that, in the blink of an eye, everyone they love is gone, and that survival has become a new career. Just because they may have escaped the initial onslaught of the virus, that doesn't mean they no longer have to be vigilant. The protagonists are cornered into making decisions that we never see ourselves having to really consider - like whether to leave a sick child behind for the safety of the group as a whole. Within these rules lies the secret to maintaining organic life but humanity takes a licking in the process. No film explores humanity deeper and more painfully than The Road. Father and son trek across the country in search of warmer climates but the real dangers are those of fellow survivors. Humanity has taken leave in place of cannibalism and greed. The elements are treacherous, but not so much as the hands of those that they once called neighbor. One scene in particular highlights body farming on a most disturbing level. And that end is one of the most frightening to contemplate, worse than death itself.

Moving into 2010, the year opens with even more yarns about the dire outcome of society. The Book of Eli delves into cannibalism as well, presenting it as a way of life for some with no remorse or consideration for others.  It is a given, and we are provided the signs with which to identify those practitioners our heroes should avoid. Not only must they beware the Sun and it's blinding rays but they must be ever-vigilant of those with shaky hands, the dead giveaway as Kuru, resulting from cannibalism, takes hold.

Other movies this year have tackled the subject of the dystopian future with more supernatural plotlines. Daybreakers is the outcome of a society gripped by vampirism and adapted to serve its new population. The humans, again, are prey but not for each other. Now vampires are the leaders of a world that exists mainly in the darkness of night. Humans are cattle and their blood is the harvest. Legion takes a biblical route. God is angry and has sent his bands of angels to eradicate human life once again. In either example, humans are screwed but these lack the punch of realism; the possibility of annihilation affecting the viewer.

Most recently The Crazies tackles the idea of biological warfare as we become the victims of our own governmental blunders. Sadly, I don't consider this example too fanciful. On the contrary, I feel this is probably the most likely of all, at least that I would expect to experience within my lifetime. It may be difficult at times to determine whether the real menace of this film is the affected townspeople or the government itself as it attempts to contain the situation with martial law, which is one of the scariest scenarios I can imagine. Interestingly, this choice leads us right back to the Father of the Post-Apocalyptic film (so named by me), George A. Romero. But I must admit that the newer version is superior to the original on many counts. For one, we get lots of “crazies.” Sadly I felt that was an element that was missing from Romero's 1973 film. The military popped in way before we got a good idea just how nuts these people were getting. I always felt it would have had more impact if we could have focused on both sides equally. This newest incarnation does that much better.

That brings us up to date with releases, but what have we discovered during this jaunt of depressing flicks? Will we come to a bad end no matter what the cause? Will we be forced to guard ourselves from our friends and neighbors rather than looking to each other for support when the @*%! goes down? Do we have nothing to look forward to in the dusty, barren future of our society?  Perhaps. Or maybe these films can serve as a warning. We already know that Man's biggest enemy is himself. We've proven that over and over again, but we, as humans, are hardheaded. We require constant reminders of what we can become if/when our world falls apart. The true question may not be “What does our future hold?” but rather “What will we do with it?” These movies offer up examples of what could happen. It is up to us to learn from them and hopefully sidestep those pitfalls.

current state of world affairs. Whatever the reason, we've had quite a few to start this year as well as many toward the end of last and it doesn't look like it'll be slowing down anytime soon.

In 2009, Zombieland gave us a fanciful and lighthearted glimpse of a world overrun with zombies and the rules that would be necessary to survive. Carriers had rules as well, but the tone was quite the opposite of the former. In both, the survivors are forced to face harsh realities. They must come to terms with the fact that, in the blink of an eye, everyone they love is gone, and that survival has become a new career. Just because they may have escaped the initial onslaught of the virus, that doesn't mean they no longer have to be vigilant. The protagonists are cornered into making decisions that we never see ourselves having to really consider - like whether to leave a sick child behind for the safety of the group as a whole. Within these rules lies the secret to maintaining organic life but humanity takes a licking in the process. No film explores humanity deeper and more painfully than The Road. Father and son trek across the country in search of warmer climates but the real dangers are those of fellow survivors. Humanity has taken leave in place of cannibalism and greed. The elements are treacherous, but not so much as the hands of those that they once called neighbor. One scene in particular highlights body farming on a most disturbing level. And that end is one of the most frightening to contemplate, worse than death itself.

Moving into 2010, the year opens with even more yarns about the dire outcome of society. The Book of Eli delves into cannibalism as well, presenting it as a way of life for some with no remorse or consideration for others.  It is a given, and we are provided the signs with which to identify those practitioners our heroes should avoid. Not only must they beware the Sun and it's blinding rays but they must be ever-vigilant of those with shaky hands, the dead giveaway as Kuru, resulting from cannibalism, takes hold.

Other movies this year have tackled the subject of the dystopian future with more supernatural plotlines. Daybreakers is the outcome of a society gripped by vampirism and adapted to serve its new population. The humans, again, are prey but not for each other. Now vampires are the leaders of a world that exists mainly in the darkness of night. Humans are cattle and their blood is the harvest. Legion takes a biblical route. God is angry and has sent his bands of angels to eradicate human life once again. In either example, humans are screwed but these lack the punch of realism; the possibility of annihilation affecting the viewer.

Most recently The Crazies tackles the idea of biological warfare as we become the victims of our own governmental blunders. Sadly, I don't consider this example too fanciful. On the contrary, I feel this is probably the most likely of all, at least that I would expect to experience within my lifetime. It may be difficult at times to determine whether the real menace of this film is the affected townspeople or the government itself as it attempts to contain the situation with martial law, which is one of the scariest scenarios I can imagine. Interestingly, this choice leads us right back to the Father of the Post-Apocalyptic film (so named by me), George A. Romero. But I must admit that the newer version is superior to the original on many counts. For one, we get lots of “crazies.” Sadly I felt that was an element that was missing from Romero's 1973 film. The military popped in way before we got a good idea just how nuts these people were getting. I always felt it would have had more impact if we could have focused on both sides equally. This newest incarnation does that much better.

That brings us up to date with releases, but what have we discovered during this jaunt of depressing flicks? Will we come to a bad end no matter what the cause? Will we be forced to guard ourselves from our friends and neighbors rather than looking to each other for support when the @*%! goes down? Do we have nothing to look forward to in the dusty, barren future of our society?  Perhaps. Or maybe these films can serve as a warning. We already know that Man's biggest enemy is himself. We've proven that over and over again, but we, as humans, are hardheaded. We require constant reminders of what we can become if/when our world falls apart. The true question may not be “What does our future hold?” but rather “What will we do with it?” These movies offer up examples of what could happen. It is up to us to learn from them and hopefully sidestep those pitfalls.

Moving into 2010, the year opens with even more yarns about the dire outcome of society. The Book of Eli delves into cannibalism as well, presenting it as a way of life for some with no remorse or consideration for others.  It is a given, and we are provided the signs with which to identify those practitioners our heroes should avoid. Not only must they beware the Sun and it's blinding rays but they must be ever-vigilant of those with shaky hands, the dead giveaway as Kuru, resulting from cannibalism, takes hold.

Other movies this year have tackled the subject of the dystopian future with more supernatural plotlines. Daybreakers is the outcome of a society gripped by vampirism and adapted to serve its new population. The humans, again, are prey but not for each other. Now vampires are the leaders of a world that exists mainly in the darkness of night. Humans are cattle and their blood is the harvest. Legion takes a biblical route. God is angry and has sent his bands of angels to eradicate human life once again. In either example, humans are screwed but these lack the punch of realism; the possibility of annihilation affecting the viewer.

Most recently The Crazies tackles the idea of biological warfare as we become the victims of our own governmental blunders. Sadly, I don't consider this example too fanciful. On the contrary, I feel this is probably the most likely of all, at least that I would expect to experience within my lifetime. It may be difficult at times to determine whether the real menace of this film is the affected townspeople or the government itself as it attempts to contain the situation with martial law, which is one of the scariest scenarios I can imagine. Interestingly, this choice leads us right back to the Father of the Post-Apocalyptic film (so named by me), George A. Romero. But I must admit that the newer version is superior to the original on many counts. For one, we get lots of “crazies.” Sadly I felt that was an element that was missing from Romero's 1973 film. The military popped in way before we got a good idea just how nuts these people were getting. I always felt it would have had more impact if we could have focused on both sides equally. This newest incarnation does that much better.

That brings us up to date with releases, but what have we discovered during this jaunt of depressing flicks? Will we come to a bad end no matter what the cause? Will we be forced to guard ourselves from our friends and neighbors rather than looking to each other for support when the @*%! goes down? Do we have nothing to look forward to in the dusty, barren future of our society?  Perhaps. Or maybe these films can serve as a warning. We already know that Man's biggest enemy is himself. We've proven that over and over again, but we, as humans, are hardheaded. We require constant reminders of what we can become if/when our world falls apart. The true question may not be “What does our future hold?” but rather “What will we do with it?” These movies offer up examples of what could happen. It is up to us to learn from them and hopefully sidestep those pitfalls.

his bands of angels to eradicate human life once again. In either example, humans are screwed but these lack the punch of realism; the possibility of annihilation affecting the viewer.

Most recently The Crazies tackles the idea of biological warfare as we become the victims of our own governmental blunders. Sadly, I don't consider this example too fanciful. On the contrary, I feel this is probably the most likely of all, at least that I would expect to experience within my lifetime. It may be difficult at times to determine whether the real menace of this film is the affected townspeople or the government itself as it attempts to contain the situation with martial law, which is one of the scariest scenarios I can imagine. Interestingly, this choice leads us right back to the Father of the Post-Apocalyptic film (so named by me), George A. Romero. But I must admit that the newer version is superior to the original on many counts. For one, we get lots of “crazies.” Sadly I felt that was an element that was missing from Romero's 1973 film. The military popped in way before we got a good idea just how nuts these people were getting. I always felt it would have had more impact if we could have focused on both sides equally. This newest incarnation does that much better.

That brings us up to date with releases, but what have we discovered during this jaunt of depressing flicks? Will we come to a bad end no matter what the cause? Will we be forced to guard ourselves from our friends and neighbors rather than looking to each other for support when the @*%! goes down? Do we have nothing to look forward to in the dusty, barren future of our society?  Perhaps. Or maybe these films can serve as a warning. We already know that Man's biggest enemy is himself. We've proven that over and over again, but we, as humans, are hardheaded. We require constant reminders of what we can become if/when our world falls apart. The true question may not be “What does our future hold?” but rather “What will we do with it?” These movies offer up examples of what could happen. It is up to us to learn from them and hopefully sidestep those pitfalls.

That brings us up to date with releases, but what have we discovered during this jaunt of depressing flicks? Will we come to a bad end no matter what the cause? Will we be forced to guard ourselves from our friends and neighbors rather than looking to each other for support when the @*%! goes down? Do we have nothing to look forward to in the dusty, barren future of our society?  Perhaps. Or maybe these films can serve as a warning. We already know that Man's biggest enemy is himself. We've proven that over and over again, but we, as humans, are hardheaded. We require constant reminders of what we can become if/when our world falls apart. The true question may not be “What does our future hold?” but rather “What will we do with it?” These movies offer up examples of what could happen. It is up to us to learn from them and hopefully sidestep those pitfalls.