If you’ve finished watching this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top picks for alternate viewing. So without further ado, we present 10 movies to check out when you’ve finished watching Chaos Walking.
Annihilation
Annihilation is a visually stimulating, interesting film that challenges and surprises in equal measure. The suffocating, tense atmosphere gripping most of the film does a great job building toward the ending. Having said that, this is likely to be divisively received from audiences, delivering a very different and artistic interpretation to the end of a sci-fi flick. The story begins with concerned wife Lena unwittingly becoming entangled in a government secret after her husband returns from duty a hollow shell of the man he once was. Recruited for a dangerous mission by sleepy Dr Ventress, Lena sets out with an all-female group into a strange, alien phenomena called The Shimmer. Bizarre, thought provoking and peppered with light bites of horror, Annihilation is a solid movie.
Arrival
Arrival is a cleverly written, thought provoking sci-fi flick that takes a relatively subdued approach at what would happen if aliens landed on Earth. Instead of explosions and bombastic action like Independence Day or Armageddon, Arrival instead plays out as a character-driven examination, with language expert Louise Banks in the driving seat. The story begins when she’s recruited by the US government to investigate strange egg-shaped objects which have appeared across the globe. As the movie progresses, we catch glimpses of these alien entities, with Louise doing her utmost to try and communicate with them. What do they want? Why are they here? And are they actually hostile? This movie is a real modern classic, with a moody atmosphere and an engrossing story to boot.
The Maze Runner
The Maze Runner is another of a long string of YA book adaptations. Although the later films take liberties with the main plot line, the original remains a pretty intriguing mystery/action hybrid. The story here revolves around a boy called Thomas, who’s deposited into a strange maze with a community of boys. Amnesia-stricken and trapped, Thomas’ only hope for survival comes from joining forces with fellow “runners” and finding a way out. With a mysterious girl entering their ranks and some creative concepts to boot, The Maze Runner should whet the appetite for fans of Chaos Walking.
Equilibrium
Equilibrium was panned hard by critics when it released back in 2002. In fact, a reviewer from the New York Times actually gave this a 0/10! Still, this is one of those undeniable cult classics that was unfortunately overshadowed by The Matrix and its subsequent sequels. The premise here takes place in a futuristic world where an oppressive regime have eliminated war by suppressing emotions. Everything from books to music are forbidden and actually punishable by death. A top ranking government agent called John Preston finds himself at the center of all this, enforcing these rules against any and all who would defy the state. When he misses a dose of Prozium (a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion) Preston finds himself looking at the world in a very different way. Serving as a heady blend of 1984 and Brave New World, Equilibrium is an intriguing dystopian world that plays up a unique concept in a way that hasn’t really been replicated since.
The Hunger Games
Dubbed by many as Battle Royale with cheese, The Hunger Games is a classic YA story with all the usual cliches and tropes one would expect from this genre. The basic premise revolves around a totalitarian nation called Panem, which is divided into 12 districts around the Capitol. To control the population, each year two children are chose from each district via a random lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. These televised games are broadcast throughout the nation, with only one person stepping away victorious. When Prim is selected for the upcoming Hunger Games from District 12, her sister Katniss steps up and takes her place; a decision that will change her life forever. While the sequels begin to steer away from what made this premise so interesting to begin with, the original movie remains one of the better young adult flicks out there.
Bird Box
Based on the book of the same name, Bird Box is another sensory-specific movie in the horror category. Its dual timelines certainly diminish the horror but if you’re looking for a movie that distorts the senses, this Netflix original definitely fits the bill. Set five years after an ominous unseen presence drives most of society to suicide, a Mother and her two children must fight against the unknown – and the unseen – to find sanctuary. Accompanying this timeline is another that runs parallel to it that sees us jump back and follow a ragtag group of survivors (including the aforementioned Mother) as they try to live out this threat. It’a not the best movie from 2019, but it is a uniquely original one before A Quiet Place spun the same concept and became the more prolific hit.
A Quiet Place
Speaking of A Quiet Place, this uniquely original horror overshadowed Bird Box in many ways, becoming one of the most tense horrors to come from 2019. This movie plays with its sensory-specific premise a lot more than Bird Box does, with some genuinely unnerving segments and a solid screenplay. The story here takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where monsters roam the world. Armed with ultra-sensitive hearing, the only way to survive is through keeping silent and creeping around the world. After a family tragedy, the Abbott family remain ever-vigilant against the threats outside. But are their days numbered? Well written and with a sequel on the way too, A Quiet Place is quietly on course to become a modern cultural hit.
Children of Men
Children Of Men features one of the greatest openings to any movie in history. This explosive start is followed by a solid screenplay and one of 2006’s best films. The post apocalyptic story takes place in an alternate future in 2027. Women have somehow become infertile and to make matters worse, the world’s youngest person has just died. With humanity on the brink of extinction, it’s up to a former activist called Theo Faron to try and change our fortunes. This comes in the form of a miraculously pregnant woman whom he’s tasked with transporting to a sanctuary at sea, away from the chaos and anarchy gripping the streets. Some gorgeous cinematography and a couple of incredibly tense action set pieces help make Children Of Men one of the more definitive post apocalyptic stories.
Ready Player One
Set in the year 2045, Ready Player One sees us venture into another bleak dystopian world. This time though the characters are so fed up with it, that they don virtual reality headsets and escape to the OASIS, a truly immersive virtual universe where most of humanity spend their days. At the center of this visually stimulating world is James Halliday, the creator of Oasis. He leaves the prize of controlling Oasis and his fortune to the winner of a three part contest designed to find a worthy heir. Step forward Wade, who finds himself intent on winning this contest no matter what. Only, it soon becomes clear that there’s more to this than first meets the eye. Directed by Steve Spielberg, much like Chaos Walking this movie has some wonderful visuals that help prop this movie up.
The Road
The fact that finding a coke can is the happiest moment of this screenplay should tell you all you need to know about The Road’s tone. Bleak is the dish of the day here, and boy is this film a depressing slice of dystopian hell. In its simplest form, the movie revolved around a young boy and his Father who travel across the barren wasteland of post-apocalyptic America in search of greener pastures. Or, more specifically, the ocean. Fans of the walking scenes in Chaos Walking will almost certainly be in their element here. With an inspired Viggo Mortensen in the driving seat, The Road is one of the more unique and thematically sound dystopian book adaptations. A must watch. So there we have it, our 10 Movie picks to keep you busy after watching Chaos Walking. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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