District 9 [MA]

Twenty years ago, aliens landed on Earth. Specifically in Johannesburg where their mother ship lies suspended in the air whilst the aliens themselves were exiled to a slum on the fringes of the city known as District 9. Now the government is readying to undergo a project to evict the aliens, commonly known as ‘prawns’, from their houses in the slum and relocate them elsewhere. Wikus Van De Merwe is charged with the task of overseeing the entire operation, but that takes a turn when he discovers the secret behind alien weaponry and some confronting home truths about the people he works for. 

Part science fiction action movie, part documentary and commentary on apartheid, District 9 is a must-see if you like films that push the boundaries. Addressing some pretty confronting themes regarding the ‘evolution’ of humanity (I seem to be on a theme here, first 28 Days Later and now this), this movie is one of those flicks that really makes an impression. 

Twenty years ago, aliens landed on Earth. Specifically in Johannesburg where their mother ship lies suspended in the air whilst the aliens themselves were exiled to a slum on the fringes of the city known as District 9. Now the government is readying to undergo a project to evict the aliens, commonly known as ‘prawns’, from their houses in the slum and relocate them elsewhere. Wikus Van De Merwe is charged with the task of overseeing the entire operation, but that takes a turn when he discovers the secret behind alien weaponry and some confronting home truths about the people he works for. 

I am first going to say that this movie is not for the fainthearted. If you’re at all squeamish about blood and bodily mutations, penetrations, and abnormalities then I would probably attach a warning to this movie. There are some pretty gruesome things that happen and, of course with modern makeup and computer tricks, a lot of it looks quite authentic and highly plausible, which makes it all the more gross and confronting. 

Essentially, this movie is all about our attitudes towards the Other. Whether it be legit aliens from another planet (which really only heightens the existing problems and conflicts within our own societies) or people from other countries, the racism, speciesism, people respond in the same way: with a dehumanising attitude that allows us to not feel so icky about some of the horrible, unforgiveable, and hostile things that we do (normally for the ‘greater good’: our own progress). 

The story itself harbours all the drama, action, and complexity that you could want in a movie, but I do want to give a shout out to the special effects and the way in which the movie was shot. Part of it is action movie, part of it is documentary complete with interviews, on-the-spot shooting, and character interaction with the camera. 

The aliens themselves were really cool and an impressive little piece of computer wizardry as they not only look awesome, but connect with us on a human, emotional level. You look at the eyes of these things and there’s an instant connection, which is further established when we get subtitles all the way through when they speak, not just to humans but to each other too. 

Starring Sharlto Copely, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike, Elizabeth Mkandawie, John Summer, William Allen Young, Nick Blake, Nick Boraine, and Jed Brophy, District 9 is a really compelling movie that’s filled with action, conspiracy, drama, betrayal, and tragedy. It’s seriously one of those films that you watch and you feel fundamentally altered in some way afterwards. You can’t quite explain it, but something about this movie has struck you and that’s what this film was like for me.