Setting is a crucial part of any film. It is where the action takes place, where the characters generally reside, and often acts to shape and define the films overall aesthetic. The setting can often be an isolated one, creating a feeling of claustrophobia or loneliness most effectively felt in films like Alien and The Thing. On the other hand, the setting can feel vast and almost infinite, allowing for countless possibilities throughout the film itself. A perfect example of this type of setting can be found in a wide variety of sci-fi films that are defined by the sprawling dystopias in which they take place. They are often gargantuan cities with massive skylines, advanced technology, and an abundance of neon all over. Yet beneath their unique visual splendor often lies a dark underbelly driven by crime, corruption, and the overall darker side of humanity. For me, these dystopian cities are fascinating places for a film to take place as they offer a truly unique journey into the dark world of tomorrow. The following are some of my favourite dystopian cities in cinema from over the years, ranging from the bleak, to the fascinating, to the neon-soaked, each one is truly fascinating and unique.
10. New York- Escape From New York (1981)
For those who have not seen this John Carpenter classic, the basic premise is that in the future, Manhattan has been converted into a massive maximum security prison to hold Americas most deadly criminals. However, when air force one crashes in the center of the city, former bank robber Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is tasked with rescuing the president within 23 hours in order to gain himself a pardon. The New York that is depicted in this film is not a shiny, futuristic one, but a grim slum riddled with crime and bloodshed. The packed streets of Manhattan are practically empty, and the buildings that once housed countless New Yorkers crumble in ruin. It is a hollow shell of its former self that is ruled by the gangs of criminals imprisoned there. What I like about this depiction of New York is that it is so familiar to the New York we know yet so different at the same time. It looks like New York, but its sheer emptiness and all around coldness make it feel almost entirely otherworldly. It is nothing but a crumbling ruin of the once most glorious city. It's a contrast to many other dystopian cities that often feel packed and overstuffed, but I suppose New York feels that way as it is, so turning it into an empty and isolated ruin was the right move for Carpenter and co-writer Nick Castle.
9. London- Children of Men (2006)
This bleak sci-fi film from Alfonso Cuarón presents a world where women have all become infertile, leading modern civilisation into a chaotic downward spiral. While the vast majority of society has crumbled, London remains a haven of civilisation among the chaos and is where many people set their sights on, leading to further problems with immigration. The London in Children of Men doesn't look too far away from the current London of the present. Apart from the evident advances in technology, the futuristic architecture, and odd neon sign here and there, this is very much the London of the near future which makes it feel somewhat more grounded in comparison to some of the later installments on this list. However, its only when the characters venture outside of London that the city truly feels like a city of tomorrow. From what we see, the rest of the country is predominantly rural, while other towns such as Bexhill-on-sea have been reduced to run down slums. In hindsight, London really is the modern sanctuary of Children of Men, standing out among the rest of the world. However, despite its modern appearance and seemingly safe nature, the city of London is still plagued by numerous sociopolitical issues that render it to be somewhat less than idealistic.
8. New York- Hardware (1990)
Hardware may not be the most well-know film on the list, but the world of this 90's cult-classic will always stick in my mind. Set in a distorted, futuristic version of New York, Hardware follows a former army robot that repairs itself with scrap and wreaks havoc on a reclusive artist in her apartment. While most of the film unfortunately takes place in the confines of the apartment itself, the first act offers an interesting look at the world outside of it. This version of New York, or the slums of it at least, is essentially like a massive junkyard. People buy and sell scrap, buildings are made out of scrap, people even wear scrap, scrap is essential to the people of the city. It's almost like a scrap version of Venice, as protagonist Moses (Dylan McDermott) travels around in a water taxi early in the film (driven by the late Lemmy of Motorhead, no less). It's a unique dystopia that differs from a lot of others from similar films. Outside of scrapheap New York lies a vast orange desert as well, where scavengers search for scrap to buy and sell back at the city. It's a pity we don't get to see much of the city itself because I was really intrigued by this wonderful world of junk, the little that we do see however, leaves a lot to the imagination.
7. Trash City- WALL-E (2008)
While we didn't get to see much of Richard Stanley's scrapheap New York in Hardware, we did get to see a similar dystopia 18 years later in Pixar's WALL-E. Probably the most lighthearted film on this list, WALL-E is set in a future where the Earths rubbish has built up so much that humans have been forced to evacuate while special cleaning robots have been left to clean up the place. This is how you'd imagine the rest of the city would have looked in Hardware, and it truly is a unique vision of the future. Not only are the roads lines with trash, but even the cities tallest skyscrapers are covered in piles and piles of rubbish. When I say the city is covered in rubbish, I literally mean covered, even the atmosphere looks like it's made of trash. In a darker film, this type of setting could be a really bleak concept, but in a lighthearted film like WALL-E there is a lot of fun had with the idea. The eponymous robot appears to enjoy his life in the trash city, collecting different doo dads and knick knacks from the infinite scrapheaps and converting the rubbish in to condensed cubes of trash. It's a more comedic depiction of a post-apocalyptic world in comparison to the other films on this list, yet it still acts as a cautionary tale, the message being to take care of the planet. Seeing how humanity eventually turned out later on in the film is enough to make you never litter again.
6. Mega City One- Dredd (2012)
Based on the 2000 AD comics, Dredd follows the titular law enforcer Judge Dredd who acts as judge, jury, and executioner to the criminals who inhabit Mega City One. Mega City One is a sprawling metropolis that stretches along a large portion of East Coast America and is riddled with massive tower blocks that house some of its 800 million residents. Much of the film takes place inside one of these tower blocks that has become overrun with crime, however, we get a fair idea of how considerably massive Mega City One really is at a number of points throughout the film. The skyline consists of these gargantuan tower blocks that make the surrounding skyscrapers seem like council houses in comparison. They are spread out from each other as opposed to being clustered together, truly emphasising the sheer size of this city. Along with the cities appearance, the law enforcement is also considerably unique given the fact that they have the authority to act as judge, jury, and executioners. They have full control over the law and are relentless when it comes to criminals, killing anybody who poses a threat to them. This makes Mega City One possibly the most violent dystopia on our list, with bloodshed guaranteed on a daily basis. We can only hope to see more of the gargantuan city when the television series Mega City One finally comes through.
5. Nameless City- Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliams surreal sci-fi masterpiece follows a young government employee named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) who gets caught up in a bizarre conspiracy, changing his life forever. As huge as the metropolis in Brazil looks, with its massive skyscrapers and labyrinthine streets, it feels like an extremely claustrophobic place to live. The skyscrapers feel like massive walls enclosing the citizens, as if they are constantly stuck inside a giant box. Gilliam succeeds in making Sam feel like a tiny insect inside this enormous modernist metropolis, and this sense of severe claustrophobia translates excellently with the audience. The society of Gilliam's metropolis is one that relies heavily on consumerism, there are numerous advertisements and consumer goods seen throughout over which the citizens of the city obsess. Ironically, a lot of these items never seem to work very good. This obsession with consumerism and self-image is epitomised in the infamous scene where Sam's mother undergoes cosmetic surgery in which her face is stretched out in a bizarre manner. It truly is a strange world that only Terry Gilliam could dream up, yet it feels a lot closer to our own world than some of the other cities on our list. The modernist architecture, the growing obsession with consumerism, it's not far off the modern metropolis of today.
4. Neo-Tokyo- Akira (1988)
After a nuclear explosion destroys Tokyo and sparks World War III, the city was rebuilt as a massive cyberpunk metropolis known as Neo-Tokyo. By 2019, the year in which Akira is set, the cities crime rate is at an all time high as several biker gangs battle on the streets. We get a chance to explore Neo-Tokyo throughout the film, from its shady back-alleys to its towering neon-skyscrapers. The city is a true visual spectacle that is brought to life with the films beautiful animation. The attention to detail, in particular light, really makes the city feel alive and gives it its own unique aesthetic. While the city may look like a beacon of hope that rose from the ashes of old Tokyo, in its lower levels, the crime runs rampant and the law enforcement is incredibly strict. The city has an extremely violent underbelly, contrasting the visually pleasing skyline above. This is reflected in the unique youth culture that is central in the film, that being the rival biker gangs. Each gang has their own unique style, similar to the droogs in A Clockwork Orange, allowing them to set themselves apart from each other. Their prestige and prominence are reflected in the quality of their bikes, as such, lead protagonist Kaneda is a well-renowned gang member due to his iconic red bike. From its beautiful glowing skyline to the distinctive biker culture, Neo-Tokyo is a unique dystopian metropolis with many layers to it. Beneath its glowing facade lies a world of crime and violence.
3. Dark City- Dark City (1998)
Dark City gains its name from the fact that it is always night there. While none of the citizens of the city seem to notice, a man named John Murdoch (Rupert Sewell) soon begins to realise that something is wrong when he finds himself framed for a series of murders and subsequently pursued by mysterious pale men known as the strangers. The dark City is a fascinating environment, combining gothic elements with neo-noir to create a unique nocturnal metropolis. The combination of futuristic technology with the noir aesthetic make it hard to place this city in time, making it all the more intriguing a location. It's a grim world, but even more grim are its inhabitants, most notably the strangers. The strangers are mysterious bald, pale men who dress in black trenchcoats and hats, they pursue John Murdoch throughout the film. These are really creepy figures that add an extra layer of intrigue to the city itself, they are everpresent throughout yet their motives are not made clear until later on in the film. One thing that is clear is that they have a very important role in running the city from behind the scenes. It's a gloomy, moody environment full of gothic buildings that appear to shift and change while people aren't looking, almost as if the city itself is alive in a way. Of all the cities on this list, Dark City is by far the most mysterious and naturally, the darkest.
2. Los Angeles- Blade Runner (1982)
By far one of the most iconic onscreen metropolises ever, Ridley Scott's futuristic version of Los Angeles is one of the many things that makes Blade Runner so perfect. This towering metropolis is instantly recognisable, soaked in the neon glow of the numerous signs around the city and surrounded by numerous flying vehicles that swarm the skyline like insects. It's a visual marvel that feels like something truly out of this world. From the numerous giant billboards on the sides of the buildings, to the pyramid-shaped Tyrell building, this is an instantly recognisiable metropolis. Down on the ground below the skyline, the city is incredibly busy as strange and unique characters rush about their daily lives. The streets are lines with countless shops and eateries, standing out in all their neon glory, and as well follow Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) throughout the film, we are allowed to immerse ourselves in this fantastic city. Amid all of the futuristic buildings however, we often come across the remnants of the old city as we follow Deckard on his journey. The most notable location is Sebastians apartment where Deckard encounters Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) in the films climax. The decaying walls, the gloomy atmosphere, it's a stark contrast from the rest of the city despite sitting smack bang in the middle of it. From the iconic Tyrell building to the Japanese neon signs, Blade Runner's futuristic version of Los Angeles is a sheer wonder and it's a damn shame that the real LA hasn't caught up to it yet. I cannot wait to revisit that world in this years sequel Blade Runner 2049.
1. The Metropolis- Metropolis (1927)
The film that started it all, Fritz Lang's epic sci-fi film from 1927 is a milestone in cinematic history. This German expressionist classic is set in a dystopian metropolis in the middle of a severe class struggle. In the upper part of the metropolis, the high class intellectuals live lavish lifestyles in beautiful skyscrapers while their children enjoy the luxuries of beautiful pleasure gardens. Meanwhile in the lower part of the city, the workers slave away on dangerous machinery until their shift ends and they are replaced with another batch of workers. The class struggle between the workers and the rich city planners is central to the films plot and reflects the rising political tensions in the world at that time. From the gloomy industrial chambers below the city to the iconic Tower of Babel that stands at the center of the city, this is a well-developed and extensive environment that we get to explore in depth. Lang stated that he was inspired to make the film after looking upon the New York skyline for the first time, and the influence is clear. From the modernist architecture to the gargantuan skyline, Lang's inspiration behind the film shines through clearly. The city itself is brought to life using astounding practical effects that look way ahead of their time, Lang manages to create this incredibly convincing world before CGI was even a thing. On top of all of that, Metropolis no doubt inspired a lot of the films on this list, the most obvious being Brazil and Dark City. It's an incredible feat in filmmaking and one of the most influential films of all time.
Those are just 10 of the many unique dystopian cities in cinema. While they all bare similarities, be it architecture, sociopolitical issues, or neon, they are each entirely unique landscapes that stand out on their own. They offer insights into potentially dark futures that are often the result of humanities own faults, acting as almost cautionary tales to the viewers. While all of them are incredibly troubled places, they are equally as fascinating due to their distinctive aesthetics and cultures. So what's your favourite dystopian city in cinema? Let me know in the comments if you've got anything to add! Coming up soon, I'll be looking back at Edgar Wright's The World's End so stay tuned for that within the next week. Until next time!
No comments:
Post a Comment