The realm of science fiction is one that can play both sides of the coin in any given situation. Consider the fact that there are a number of movies that concern the future. Most of them depict an apocalyptic vision of a world that ends miserably, a world where many has destroyed everything with no hope of redemption. Then there are those movies that start with this premise and yet offer a spark of hope. 2067 is one of those films.
Set in the year 2067 we are presented with a world where
global warming has left the planet destitute, where there are no more plants
and the only way to survive is breathing artificial air. But that air supply
has its side effects with people suffering and dying from what they call the
Sickness. There seems to be no hope left for mankind.
Enter Ethan Whyte (Kodi Smit-McPhee). A tunnel worker for
the city’s power plant Ethan is the son of Richard Whyte (Aaron Glenane), a
scientist who committed suicide when he was younger. Before doing so he
presented Ethan with a gift, a mechanical bracelet that attached itself to
Ethan painfully and cannot be removed. Working alongside is his best friend
Jude (Ryan Kwanten). Ethan is working to elevate his position to get a better
air quality for his wife Xanthe (Sana’s Shaik) who is suffering from the
Sickness.
Ethan is called in to talk to the head of the corporation in charge of a research organization called Chronicorp where his father worked, Regina (Deborah Mailman). She explains to him that civilization as we know it will soon be wiped out. But there is hope. The project his father was working on was a time machine and a message sent via radio wave to the future came back with a simple message: Send Ethan Whyte. Now the team has gotten the machine to the point where they can send a human and in response to that message Ethan has been chosen with the task of finding a cure in the future and bringing it back.
He will land 407 years from now and there is the chance that
he himself might not make it back. He chooses to do what he must and save the
world. He enters and is sent forward only to arrive to find the world a
different place. Vegetation is everywhere but there is no one there to greet
him. He explores and with the help of a handheld computer finds a bunker with a
skeleton sitting outside with a bullet in the forehead. The name tag on the
uniform reads Ethan Whyte.
Things get stranger as he does what he can to survive. Eating berries he thinks are safe he is poisoned but before he can die Jude shows up. He informs Ethan that they knew from his vital signs being transmitted back that he was in trouble and fired up enough juice to the machine to send him to help. Now the pair must find out if there is a cure and where everyone else is. But is there anyone? And who was it that shot Ethan?
The movie plays out with these concepts of time travel,
corporate mind-think and just who and who will not be saved as it plays out.
Progressing forward the story switches concepts from the survival of mankind to
trying to play with time and being able to affect the outcome. Is that possible
or is time set in stone? Can Ethan and Jude play with time and save the world
or is there no hope of doing so? And if it can be changed should it be?
The movie is extremely well made and looks fantastic. The sets that range from post-apocalyptic trash tossed world to clean cut research labs to a world covered in green all are amazing. The direction by Seth Larney in only his second feature is exceptional. Larney also deserves credit for an interesting and compelling story. Lead actors Smit-McPhee and Kwanten do a solid job here as reluctant heroes. On the whole the movie presents a nice slice of science fiction that uses a story rather than effects to propel it forward. That’s a sign of a true classic.
Many may not pick this one up to watch and that would be a mistake. With the number of poorly made films being made on the fly these days this one is worth watching. If you need something to entertain and to make you think, then give this one a go.
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