Review: District 9, A Science Fiction Masterpiece For The Ages
- May 30, 2017
- 2 min read
Neill Blomkamp exploded onto the big screen with what quickly became my favourite science fiction film of all time, District 9. Combining exciting action with smart storytelling, it remains relevant today and for the years to come.
District 9 is the largest slum in Johannesburg. With over a million residents, crime is inevitable. As the crime rate rises, public resistance to District 9 escalate. Eventually a decision is made. A taskforce, led by Vikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) Is deployed to evict them, moving them to a new shelter far outside the city limits. There's just one small problem, the residents of District 9 are not of this world.
There's a lot more going on in District 9 but it's undeniably better to go in blind. It has elements of body horror, blockbuster action, documentary and classic sci-fi, it really is one of the best movies around. Sharlto Copley gives an excellent performance as a man who has his world turned upside down. While the idea of a man becoming what he despises is hardly new, here it is presented in such a visceral way that it feels fresh again. The documentary styled sections help to ground the character and the world, making everything feel that little bit more tangible.
While the story and cast are on point, one of the best elements is the effects. Released in 2009, one would expect the visuals to look a little lacking today. That isn't the case, in fact, most of the digital creatures look better than much of what is released today with the insect like aliens to very real indeed. It's a poster child for the incorporation of of digital and practical effects, as well as the quality that Weta, the same team behind Lord Of The Rings, is capable of.
The action, while not the highlight for me, is on par with the high standards of everything else on display. It's violent, visceral and harsh and, once again, nails the "real" feeling. The alien weapons remain some of the coolest fictional firearms ever devised and the final action sequence is stellar to say the least.
While Blomkamp hasn't made anything quite as good since, it's easy to see why. District 9 set the bar so very high, a bar that no other film, before or after its release, was able to surpass. Maybe something better will arrive one day, maybe at the hands of Blomkamp, but until then, District 9 stands far and above everything else.
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