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These sci-fi films may not be on your radar.
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00:00When we think of great sci-fi, our minds are often cast back to the 1980s. With movies
00:05like The Thing, The Terminator and Aliens, it was clear that decade was a golden age
00:09for the genre. But there are lesser known sci-fi films that came out recently which
00:14deserved a lot more recognition. Considering so many of these movies are available on streaming
00:19services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, there's nothing stopping you checking them out right
00:24this second.
00:25So with that in mind then, I'm Ellie with WhatCulture and here are 10 recent sci-fi
00:30movies you probably haven't seen.
00:32Number 10. In the Shadow of the Moon
00:35In the Shadow of the Moon begins with a cop called Locke whose night patrol starts like
00:40any other night. But when three random people across the city suddenly die after their brains
00:45melt from the inside, Locke can't make heads or tails over what killed them. For the next
00:5020 years, he obsesses over the case, unaware his actions will shape the world's future.
00:55If you went into this film cold, you wouldn't have the slightest clue you were watching sci-fi.
01:00Until the end, the story plays out like a detective thriller. But as the science fiction
01:04qualities slowly but surely seep into the plot, you realise what Locke is dealing with is far
01:09from ordinary police work. Like most great mysteries, In the Shadow of the Moon has a perfect
01:14balance of not revealing too much until the climax while simultaneously maintaining intrigue
01:19from the opening scene. Even though the film deals with some complex scientific concepts
01:23and profound theories, it focuses on Locke's struggle above all else, giving the viewer a
01:28deeper connection to the story.
01:30Number 9. Code 8
01:32Code 8 works like a more realistic version of X-Men. In this world, superpowered individuals,
01:37or powers, don't use their abilities to battle supervillains or aliens. Instead,
01:42they are assigned jobs which fit their skill set. Since superhumans took all the big jobs,
01:46countless non-powered people are made redundant, causing a lot of resentment in society.
01:52When powers are replaced themselves by robots called guardians, which work like the X-Men sentinels,
01:57they are figuratively tossed onto the street, forcing many of them to turn to crime to survive.
02:02If you are bored of formulaic, CGI-filled superhero flicks, but still enjoy the core concept,
02:08Code 8 is the movie for you. It performs better worldbuilding in the first five minutes than most
02:13blockbusters manage in their entirety. The special effects are used sparingly, but always look slick
02:18and polished. Also, if you're a fan of CW's Arrowverse, Code 8 has siblings Stephen and Robbie Amell as
02:24the two leads. The only real detriment is the film only clocks in at 98 minutes. Because the filmmakers
02:30created such a magnificent world, it's a shame the viewers didn't get a chance to see more of it.
02:35Number 8, Spectral. Spectral centers on a supernatural black ops team who fight ghosts.
02:41Based on the premise alone, you'd think this is the sort of trashy B-movie churned out by Asylum
02:45Studios. But, Spectral works because everything is played straight. When the military first detect
02:51the phantoms on a Spectral camera, they assume they're just a glitch. When the apparitions begin
02:56attacking soldiers, the government officials assume they're dealing with a human enemy with cloaking
03:00technologies. When the officials realize the threat is supernatural, they refuse to tell their
03:04men, believing they won't take the mission seriously. Unsurprisingly, this lack of communication
03:09prevents the soldiers from being prepared for the metaphysical threat, causing many of them to die
03:14needlessly. Instead of filling the runtime with excessive backstories and forced banter, Spectral jumps
03:20into the action straight away and rarely lets up. Since the enemy is invisible and can kill anyone it
03:25touches, every scene is dripping with tension. Even though once-respected sci-fi franchises like
03:31The Terminator and The Matrix have been chucking out pointless and bloated sequels in recent years,
03:36creative films like Spectral prove the genre still has plenty to offer.
03:40Number 7, Prospect. In Prospect, a teenage girl called C finds herself stuck on an alien planet.
03:47Out of desperation, she is forced to ally with Ezra, the man who's indirectly responsible for her
03:52father's death. From the very beginning, the sci-fi aspect is on full display, but as the plot unfolds,
03:58it focuses more on Ezra and C building a relationship despite their heated conflict.
04:03Even though Ezra could be depicted as irredeemable, Pedro Pascal has no difficulty
04:08finding the character's humanity, making you deeply care about him even though his duplicity
04:13makes it impossible to tell where his loyalty truly lies. Because of the shoestring budget,
04:19under $4 million, the special effects are minimal. However, fans of the genre won't feel cheated at
04:25all since the powerhouse performances of the leads are guaranteed to keep anyone enthralled.
04:30Since Prospect isn't well known, it's no surprise it failed to make a splash upon its release back in
04:352018. But due to its subtle world-building, sharp script, non-clichéd characters and nuanced
04:42performances, it's gradually earning a reputation as an underappreciated gem in the genre.
04:486. Oxygen
04:50Oxygen opens with a woman called Liz awakening in a sealed chamber. She is informed by an
04:55artificial intelligence unit that she will run out of air in under two hours. At first,
05:00the premise sounds identical to Ryan Reynolds' Buried, save for the futuristic setting,
05:05but Oxygen has one difference that stops it from feeling like a carbon copy. In this film,
05:10Liz doesn't know who she is, meaning she cannot begin to guess why she's been placed in such a
05:14container. She doesn't even know if her chamber is in a science lab, underground or outer space.
05:20Not only that, her AI is programmed to avoid answering key questions, forcing Liz to speak
05:26to the computer in a roundabout way to uncover the truth. When Liz starts to piece everything together,
05:31the viewer might feel like the story will lose its appeal, since the mystery is gone. But don't worry,
05:36Oxygen keeps throwing curveballs at you until the last few minutes, not giving the viewer a moment to relax.
05:42With an intricate script, a phenomenal performance from Melanie Laurent and creative direction,
05:48Oxygen is guaranteed to keep viewers engaged from start to finish.
05:52Number 5. Advantageous
05:54Advantageous is set in a future where most of humanity is suffering with poverty and infertility.
06:00When a mother called Gwen loses her job and is unable to secure an education for her daughter,
06:05she agrees to an experimental procedure which will transfer her mind into a better, younger body.
06:10When the transfer is successful, Gwen assumes her whole life will turn out for the better.
06:15Unfortunately, this is not the case. One problem which many futuristic films suffer is how they
06:20overstuff scenes with an ostentatious amount of special effects, which can be quite distracting.
06:25After all, it's hard to get invested in a character's story while they're flying cars zooming
06:30around in the background. Even though Advantageous is set in the dystopian future,
06:34the visuals and the post-apocalyptic angle are heavily downplayed, making the story more relatable.
06:40In fact, the movie focuses so much on the characters it's easy to forget that the story takes place in
06:45the future. It effectively juggles themes about racism, ageism and class conflict while never
06:50taking away from the fundamental story. Number 4. Level 16
06:56Level 16 revolves around an all-girls militaristic facility called the Vestalis Academy.
07:01All the students are trained by the facilitators to have feminine virtues to help them get adopted.
07:07Even though the overseers are abhorrently strict and cruel, the girls obey them without question,
07:12believing the Academy is their only chance of having a real family.
07:15But when one teenager, Vivian, suspects her mentors are hiding something from her,
07:20she does all she can to expose their true intentions.
07:23Level 16 plays out like a much smarter version of Michael Bay's The Island.
07:27The premise may be similar, but Level 16 feels more like a psychological drama akin to Black Mirror
07:33rather than a sci-fi flick. Even though the horror factor could have been ramped up,
07:37it is rarely utilized, which makes the scary parts far more disturbing.
07:41Because the girls are meant to be emotionless and laconic, it would be easy for the characters
07:45to come across as dull. But due to the film's talented ensemble, especially the lead Katie Douglas,
07:51the cast invoke a lot of emotion while saying very little.
07:54Number 3. Freaks
07:56Freaks begins with a young girl called Chloe being forced by her father to memorise details about
08:01her fake mother. When she can't answer a basic question about sport, her dad tells Chloe her
08:06behaviour is going to get her killed. Although her father tells Chloe very little about the outside
08:11world, she believes he is just keeping her safe. But there's still many things she doesn't understand.
08:16What is so dangerous out there? Why does Chloe sometimes wake up in a different house?
08:20Why does a chained woman appear in her room sometimes? It's better to go into freaks blind,
08:25since being aware of the premise will spoil the film's many surprises.
08:29Even though the viewer knows for a fact that not everything is as it seems,
08:33the plot goes in directions which the most attentive viewer won't expect.
08:37For the majority of the movie, it's impossible to tell if the characters around Chloe are evil or
08:41they are genuinely trying to protect her. The big reveal may not be particularly original,
08:46but it doesn't feel anticlimactic since the film forces the viewer to be completely invested in
08:51Chloe's journey of self-discovery. Number 2. What Happened to Monday?
08:56What Happened to Monday takes place in a world where overpopulation has forced the world's
09:00governments to issue a law so families can only bear one child. After a woman dies giving birth to
09:06identical septuplets, their grandfather Terence takes them in and names them after the seven days of
09:12the week. To avoid the government learning of the children's existence, Terence orders each of them
09:16to venture out in public on the day they're named after. Monday goes out on Monday, Tuesday
09:21goes out on Tuesday, etc, etc, so they can pretend they're all the same person. After living in secret
09:27for 30 years, Monday disappears, jeopardizing the family's life. Even though What Happened to
09:32Monday has fluid action and an inventive world, it's the performances that stand out. Although Willem
09:38Defoe is known for playing larger-than-life characters, films like this prove he's equally
09:43as talented at portraying someone more down-to-earth. However, it's impossible for Noomi Rapace not to
09:48dominate the film since she plays the septuplets. Even though playing multiple parts can cause an
09:53actor to overact to define each of them, Rapace makes all seven characters feel like human beings
09:58rather than caricatures. Number 1. I Am Mother? I Am Mother centers around an android called Mother
10:05who cares for a girl called Daughter in a secluded facility after human civilization has been destroyed.
10:11Even though the robot seems devoted to Daughter, an encounter with a mysterious woman makes her
10:16realize Mother may not be as benevolent as she appears. As intriguing as the premise is,
10:21I Am Mothers could come across as boring due to its minimal sets and cast. Thankfully,
10:26the phenomenal performances of Hilary Swank and Clara Rougard will ensure viewers are absolutely
10:32captivated. However, Swank isn't the standout for once. Despite being a two-time Oscar-winning
10:37actress, it's Mother who dominates the film. With her unblinking eye and clanking movements,
10:43she's guaranteed to keep the viewer on edge. Her gentle voice makes her more unnerving,
10:48especially when she justifies actions that are suspicious or immoral. Even though Mother is just
10:53a guy in a suit, the practical effects are so good, the average viewer would assume the robot is 100%
10:59CGI. When you realize this character was brought to life mostly through animatronics and practical
11:04effects, you appreciate the film even more. And that concludes our list. If you can think of any
11:10other examples then do let us know in the comments below and while you're there don't forget to like
11:14and subscribe and tap that notification bell. Also head over to Twitter and follow us there and I can
11:18be found across various social medias just by searching Ellie Littlechild. I've been Ellie with
11:23WhatCulture. I hope you have a magical day and I'll see you real soon.
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