The Flux Capacitor 10.12.07: Week 4 - The Alpha, the Omega and the Effect.
Posted by Owain J. Brimfield on 10.12.2007
The past, present and future of science fiction - this week we look at the Last Man. Plus, all the latest from the world of SF.
Welcome to "The Flux Capacitor", the column that examines the past, present and future of the science fiction genre. I'm your host, Owain J. Brimfield, and each week I'll be taking a look at films, TV shows and a whole lot more that exemplify a particular theme within SF. We'll see how the sci-fi of yesteryear influenced what we see on our screens today, and take a look ahead to see what may be in store in the months and years to come. Later on I'll also discuss some of the latest SF news and see how it impacts on the genre. For now though, let's get the DeLorean on the road - this week's theme is:
THE LAST MAN
The Past
"The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock at the door."
Fredric Brown's famous "shortest horror story ever written" provides inspiration for this week's column. Hey, everyone else around here is cashing in on the Halloween theme, I figured I might as well get in on the act. I remember when I first heard the story, and even more so when I read Ron Smith's adaptation of it (substitute "knock" for "lock"), thinking that it was a scenario equally as compelling within the science fiction genre as horror. Of course, the idea of the last man on earth has been a minor but powerful notion in science fiction literature for almost two centuries, dating back to Mary Shelley's post-apocalyptic 1826 novel The Last Man and becoming more prominent in novels by H.G. Wells and Richard Jefferies. However, despite the idea being a seemingly obvious one to stimulate the movie world, the idea didn't really percolate to the film industry until (perhaps understandably) the advent of the atomic bomb. That act is more closely related to next week's topic, so we'll skirt it for now, and instead look at the primary instigator of "last man" SF movies.
Which, of course, is the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. A masterpiece of paranoia and vampirism, the story is in equal parts slow-burning horror and thought-provoking sci-fi. Although initially committed to film in the 1960s under the shamefully obvious title of The Last Man on Earth (hey, it's Vincent Price, what did you expect), the most famous adaptation, and the one which brought the last man scenario to SF prominence, was 1971's The Omega Man. Starring Chuck Heston, himself no stranger to sparsely-populated science fiction after Planet of the Apes, the film concerns Robert Neville, a military scientist who possesses the sole immunity serum to a strain of biological weapon that has caused the world's population to mutate into cabalistic vampire-esque creatures. The creatures, operating in a cult-like group known as the Family, seek to destroy all vestiges of humanity and besiege Neville's fortified apartment every night. During the day, suffering from intense photophobia, they retreat to the underworld and Neville ventures out to scavenge. While Neville eventually (nay inevitably, given the movie's slight emphasis on realism relative to the source material) comes across other survivors, the film's first half is its most successful, as Neville struggles to fight off both the Family and his own insanity brought on by isolation. The creatures opposing him aren't as scary as those in the book, being more the sufferers of extreme radiation sickness and plague than actual vampires, but they are still far enough removed from humanity that Neville seems to be the only human adrift in a damaged world. The movie goes so far as to allude to Neville being a Christ figure at its conclusion, in a nice riff on the novel's final moments - after all, in what way could the Last Man be more empowered? The Neville of the book becomes Legend, the Neville of The Omega Man becomes the sacrificed messiah. It's a powerful metaphor, and one that was taken even further by a low budget 80s New Zealand movie… but we'll save that for later on, shall we?
The Present
The Last Man continues to have a small but undeniable presence within movies today, although it seems to be returning somewhat towards the horror genre. This is best exemplified by Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later (we'll disregard the disappointing sequel for now), which although ostensibly a zombie movie, exudes for its first half at least an otherworldly and atmospheric air reminiscent of The Day of the Triffids. The opening scenes of the movie, in which Cillian Murphy wanders alone through the deserted streets of London, are undeniably haunting, and had the film gone a different direction could easily have represented the setup to a true Last Man sci-fi story. Of course, it's not long before the zombies turn up, which although not drawing any complaints from me, does make me wonder. If this is a trend - that the philosophical potential of being the last man alive is too grandiose for the average Joe, so chuck in some monsters to make it appeal - then it's one that should soon be balanced to perfection, with December's release of I Am Legend, an adaptation of the novel that returns the vampires to the fold.
Although the choice of Will Smith as the lead is questionable if they're going for a truly faithful adaptation (the Neville of the novel is a blond all-American who expresses some racist views from time to time; much like Heston in fact), he's a damn fine actor and has proven his mettle in the SF genre - yes, that's right, I bloody loved Independence Day. So sue me. The most important element of Legend's narrative, though, is the growing sense of paranoia and isolation that affects Neville as he stands alone in a desolate city. If those elements are communicated well, then the film can hopefully join the small band of movies that encourage the viewer to immerse themselves completely, with a sympathetic protagonist placed in an unfathomable situation. Plus, there are bound to be some undeniable visual treats in the shape of the deserted city, as the trailer will bear witness. A little bit of undead-murderizing will probably go down nicely, too. Hopefully though, as it's no longer being released near Halloween (season of all that is scary), the horror elements will be toned down from the supernatural and instead given the basis in reality the text suggests. The important thing (in terms of sci-fi anyway) is that these circumstances feel as though they could almost be feasible in the real world - it's this that proves the key to successful contemporary-based science fiction.
The Future
So, assuming the coming version of Legend does what it should do and proves a zenith for the Last Man in cinema, what new roads can the scenario be taken down? Perhaps, once again, we need to look to the past to find a route to the future. If we have had our fill of the Last Man battling physical demons (whether they be in the shape of zombies, vampires or whatever), we should probably turn to his inner demons for future conflict (and I use that word in the psychological sense). I'm sure you remember a few paragraphs back I mentioned a particular 80s film from New Zealand - yep, this is where that comes into play. Geoff Murphy's The Quiet Earth is a film not many have seen, but it's an intensely philosophical view of how the Last Man might come about. A scientist wakes one day to discover, yes, that he is the only person left alive. Only unlike other Last Man films, this time he appears to genuinely be so. On a quest to determine what has caused every other living human to vanish, he comes to discover a mysterious force known only as the Effect has rewritten the physical laws of the universe.
This is absolutely prime remake material. It's a film with grand ideas and a good script that would only stand to benefit from a slightly increased budget and a higher level of exposure. Yes, I know remakes are for the most part the spawn of Satan, but I'd love to see this material get a rewrite for a new audience. The real brilliance of the movie is that we always believe the man is really the last person alive. He encounters two other people in his travels (yes, there are only three actors in the entire movie), but even they are possibly figments of his imagination, or other manifestations of the supposed Effect. The film's first act, as the man slowly learns what has happened and begins to go insane even as he seeks the cause of the Effect, is one of the most effective pieces of science fiction ever to come out of the southern hemisphere. Although, as a scientist, the man seeks to explain the cause through rationalizing the situation, it soon becomes apparent that something beyond comprehension is at work. Some guff about quantum physics is thrown in there for show, but the film works best when it isn't trying to explain what has gone before, and only considers what will now happen. Were a remake to happen, it would prove once and for all that intelligent science fiction doesn't just belong in books. In a world of relentless dumbing-down (some have even accused Akiva Goldsman, scribe of I Am Legend, of doing just that), it would be fantastic for some truly intellectual material to be given the chance to shine. The hugely memorable final shot of The Quiet Earth asks more questions than it answers, and we are left to wonder what caused the Effect. Perhaps the most potent suggestion is that the man himself is the Effect, and he has become God incarnate. After all, what better for the last human to aspire to?
The Infosphere
Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley are set to star in Splice, a new thriller from director Vincenzo Natali (Cube).
A genuinely interesting premise that's also a bit of a hot topic, decent actors and the skill of Natali, who is fast becoming a cult figure within the genre thanks to his first two movies Cube and the ingenious espionage thriller Cypher. Should be a good 'un.
Warner Bros. has picked up the rights to distribute Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, the next film in the Terminator franchise. Chud.com reports that McG (Charlie's Angels) is considering directing . Aintitcool.com reports that Vin Diesel is also taking meetings for the lead role in the film.
Vin Diesel, yes, I can accept that, although as fellow 411-er Brian Kristopowitz noted in the most recent edition of the Top 5, Olivier Gruner might be a better choice. But McG? All hope for the franchise would surely be lost. The man's an idiot, and his failings would only be emphasized by rushing the film out. Which would be a shame, as the Terminator universe has a ton of potential.
Disney/Pixar is gearing up pre-production on its upcoming computer-animated version of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars, the first of a trilogy of movies. (courtesy of ERBzine.com)
Very intriguing. The Carter stories have a great old-school adventure sensibility that would be in danger of omission if this was given a live-action adaptation. As long as they don't make the movie overly kid-friendly, this could be a surprise winner.
Neill Blomkamp, the man scheduled to direct the big screen version of Halo, has come out to declare the project dead.
Arse, this could have been a real hit - a movie similar in vein to Starship Troopers but with a lot more pizzazz. Still, there's always the possibility that Master Chief might yet make it to the big screen.
Entertainment Weekly reports that based on the early version of the script which they have, the Justice League of America movie will feature Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter. The film will be an origins story about the group.
Another week, another bit of news about JLA. Given that all a lot of non-fans know about Aquaman is the piss-take from Family Guy, is it really wise to include him?
Eric Bana has signed on to play a villain in the upcoming new Star Trek film.
Bana rocks. I hope he plays some kind of omnipotent galactic warlord, although the reality will be probably be a little more mundane.
And finally…
As always, reader feedback and suggestions are welcome, I respond to everything so just drop me a line. You can also check out my column "The Wonder Years" over at 411 Games. Next week in "The Flux Capacitor" - it's time for the world to end. Until then - keep watching the skies.
