As a space-faring retiree who’s seen my fair share of lunar missions and interstellar adventures, let me tell you about these intriguing titles that have caught my eye!
Stories serve as a medium for discussing subjects that are hard to express directly: emotions such as love and fear, concepts like death and hope… We create characters who embody qualities we aspire to, like beauty, courage, or intelligence, and place them in scenarios we can barely envision, allowing us to examine the world as it is, or how we dream it could be. Science fiction, among all genres, may extend this distinctive method of cultural contemplation to our potential future.
By exploring science fiction, we get a glimpse into possible future worlds and can learn from fictional errors before they become real ones. Since we can only create what we can first envision, it’s beneficial to delve into the various potential futures presented in these stories as a means of preparation for the actual challenges that may arise.
If you’re searching for inspiration or just want an exciting journey, Peacock offers an array of science fiction films and series that could be your launching point. While not all sci-fi stories depict a utopian future, they often provide more cautionary tales than blueprints, but rest assured, you’ll have a thrilling time throughout. There are numerous movies and countless episodes of science fiction to explore, these suggestions are merely some of our top picks.
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GET OUT
Before “Get Out,” I, Jordan Peele, was primarily recognized as half of the comedy duo Key & Peele. For years, Keegan-Michael Key and I brought our unique brand of humor to various platforms such as MADtv, the music video for Weird Al’s “White and Nerdy,” and our own self-titled show on Comedy Central. However, after the release of “Get Out,” my name started resonating in a different context, earning me recognition as one of the most creative and impactful voices in contemporary horror.
In their first collaboration with director Peele, actors Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams play the roles of Chris and Rose, a couple embarking on a brief getaway in Upstate New York. Their destination is Rose’s family home, and Chris feels apprehensive about how her parents may react to their interracial relationship. To his surprise, they express enthusiasm, though it seems overly so. Matters become increasingly strange when Chris observes that all the staff members, from the housekeeper to the groundskeeper, are African American. To add fuel to the fire, Rose’s parents make offensive and unsuitable remarks about various topics throughout their stay.
As the narrative progresses and the reasons behind Rose’s actions and those of her family become clear, Chris finds himself in a dimly lit realm where advanced medical science intertwines with deeply rooted racial prejudice from past eras.
TREMORS
1990 saw the release of a monster movie titled “Tremors,” directed by Ron Underwood. In this film, Fred Ward and Kevin Bacon portray Earl Bassett and Val McKee, two residents remaining in Perfection, Nevada. Growing weary of their ordinary lives as struggling handymen, they decide to leave their tools behind and pursue better opportunities.
As I was leaving town with my companions, Earl and Val, we stumbled upon the lifeless body of Edgar Deems atop an electric tower, his knuckles white from gripping a rifle, apparently dehydrated to death. To make matters worse, a rockslide blocked our only escape route, trapping us in this small town.
THE FLY
1986’s sci-fi horror movie loosely draws inspiration from George Langelaan’s 1957 short story and its 1958 film version. Among David Cronenberg’s body horror films, this one is more accessible and successful, showcasing the charisma typical of ’80s actor Jeff Goldblum.
As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: “In my game world, I’m experimenting with a scientist named Seth Brundle’s invention – telepods that can swiftly transport matter without the need for physical movement. They work great with inanimate objects, but when it comes to living beings, they twist and contort them into grotesque forms.
During an experiment, Brundle manages to figure out the secrets of living tissue. However, unknowingly, a fly sneaks into his containment pod. Since the machine can’t tell the difference between Brundle and the fly, it blends their genetic makeup. This fusion creates a being that is predominantly like Brundle but also has some characteristics of a fly… for now.
FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
The 1931 Universal Monsters horror film we know today, titled “Frankenstein,” was based on a play that came out in 1927. This play, in turn, was inspired by Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel with the same name. In this movie adaptation, Colin Clive portrays Henry Frankenstein, a scientist who ventures into the realms of life and death by assembling a being from various parts.
In this new rendition, Boris Karloff portrays The Creature, known for his distinctive flat-top hairstyle, washed-out complexion, and bolted neck. Although there are certain deviations from the original story, the 1931 film adaptation has emerged as the iconic visual interpretation of Mary Shelley’s novel.
LAND OF THE LOST
The 2009 movie titled “Land of the Lost” draws inspiration from the TV show of the same name, features popular comedians like Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, and includes Jorma Taccone (from The Lonely Island) in the role of Chaka.
Initially, renowned paleontologist Rick Marshall (played by Ferrell) publicly advocates time warps for fossil studies on television. However, his claims are met with ridicule in academic circles, leading him to a lowly job at the La Brea Tar Pits. Interestingly, this same location becomes relevant for NBC’s series, La Brea. Later on, Marshall experiences a bizarre incident involving an old, dilapidated amusement park ride that transports him… to somewhere in the past or another dimension? The specifics are unclear, but it certainly provides some humor!
HAPPY DEATH DAY & HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U
It’s your birthday, but if you so choose, you can end your life. In this 2017 horror-comedy, Jessica Rothe plays Tree Gelbman, a college student who finds herself trapped in a lethal time loop, where she is repeatedly killed and resurrected. On her way to a surprise birthday party, Tree encounters a dark tunnel and falls victim to a masked killer, only to find herself back at the start of the day after each demise.
Each day finds Tree re-living identical experiences, steering clear of the tunnel and the murderer. Yet, at the celebration’s end, she falls victim once more to the ominous cloaked figure. This vicious cycle persists as Tree repeats the same day ad infinitum, culminating in her brutal demise each time. The only means of escape lies in identifying and apprehending the killer before it’s all over.
2019’s movie sequel titled “Happy Death Day 2U” reassembles the original cast, delving into the cause behind the time loop: a chain of temporal experiments orchestrated by a quantum reactor. The plot then spirals into an intricate, multidimensional puzzle reminiscent of “Sliders“, exploring a vast cosmic mystery across multiple universes.
Watch it now on Peacock!
THE CORNETTO TRILOGY
As a gaming enthusiast, let me share some insights about my favorite movie series – the Cornetto Trilogy, often known simply as that. This hilarious set of films is the brainchild of director Edgar Wright, collaboratively written with Simon Pegg. In each flick, the dynamic duo Pegg and Nick Frost take center stage alongside an eclectic bunch of supporting actors.
The series kicked off in 2004 with “Shaun of the Dead,” a humorous yet gruesome twist on the zombie genre. This was followed by “Hot Fuzz” in 2007, where Simon Pegg and Nick Frost portrayed police officers in the quiet town of Sandford, Gloucestershire. Sergeant Nicholas Angel (Pegg) found life in Sandford monotonous compared to his city beat, but the peace was shattered when a string of murders uncovered a bizarre hidden conspiracy beneath the town’s surface.
Back in 2013, I found myself immersed in the final chapter of an extraordinary trilogy – “The World’s End.” This tale follows a band of old friends revisiting their youthful exploits with a pub crawl, famously known as the Golden Mile. Twelve pubs were on our itinerary, culminating at the fabled World’s End.
Watch it now on Peacock!
US
This movie titled merely “Us” serves as the 2019 sequel to Jordan Peele’s smash debut film, “Get Out“. Despite its straightforward name, it conceals a fascinatingly intricate and chilling narrative. The story unfolds in 1986 when a young Adelaide Thomas accompanies her family to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
During a trip through the house of mirrors, she encounters a duplicate of herself, not just an image but something far darker and ominous. This experience was so harrowing that Adelaide remained silent for years following it. Many years have passed since then, and we find grown-up Adelaide (portrayed by Lupita Nyong’o) planning a family holiday with her husband Gabe (Winston Duke) and their two children.
At this point, Adelaide makes her double’s reappearance, but she isn’t on her own this time. Her counterpart, named Red, has a whole family, yearning for the life that Adelaide and her family enjoy. In fact, there are doubles for every person on Earth. They refer to themselves as the Tethered, and they are enraged.
Watch it now on Peacock!
THE THING
There’s something inherently frightening about Antarctica. Going there, to the fringes of our world, the only place too cold for our species to set up permanent residence, means stepping outside of our domain. It’s off the map, as it were, the sort of place you might find monsters.
In a chilling manner, John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi horror film, titled “The Thing“, delves deep into the idea of an alien entity that can assimilate other life forms. The narrative unfolds as helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady (portrayed by Kurt Russell) embarks on a perilous Antarctic expedition. Upon arrival, the crew discovers a hidden alien spacecraft beneath the ice. However, they soon realize that this vessel was not vacant; an alien organism had escaped and began infecting any living beings it encountered, effectively replacing them.
Currently, MacReady and his team are the only ones defending mankind against a horde of shape-shifting aliens. They’re unsure about who, if anyone, among them is trustworthy.
Watch it now on Peacock!
PUSH
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Evans is best known for portraying Steve Rogers/Captain America; however, this isn’t his only superhero character. He also starred as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in two Fantastic Four films released in 2005 and 2007.
In the 2009 film “Push,” Evans played a character in dire straits, a supernatural tenant. For many years, it has been observed that people have appeared with seemingly extraordinary psychic capabilities. These include Movers, who can manipulate objects mentally, and Watchers who can foresee events before they happen. Additionally, there are those who can harness energy for both destructive and healing purposes. Authorities recognize these individuals, subjecting them to potentially lethal tests aimed at enhancing their abilities.
In this realm, individuals possessing unique talents are exploited, mistreated, and eventually eliminated. It falls upon Nick (Evans) and Cassie (Dakota Fanning) to restore balance and justice.
Watch it now on Peacock!
THEY LIVE
In John Carpenter’s 1988 sci-fi masterpiece, They Live, we witness a world where the darkest conspiracy theories are fact. The protagonist, a transient named Nada (portrayed by Roddy Piper), is seeking employment in Los Angeles. Along his journey, he interacts with a street preacher warning about the sinister plots of an unnamed “they.” This sort of encounter is common in bustling cities and often dismissed. However, Nada’s indifference might have continued if not for the events that unfolded later.
An unusual TV program suggests that covert communications and coded signals are manipulating our actions. Nada finds herself entangled in a clandestine scheme aimed at human salvation, acquiring a unique pair of glasses that expose these hidden messages and the enigmatic, skull-faced aliens residing among us.
They are encouraging excessive consumption, damaging our earth, and increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases in an effort to change our world to resemble theirs. The more we reflect upon it, the more logical this appears. If it’s not extraterrestrials, then we must be making all these choices ourselves.
Watch it now on Peacock!
HOLLOW MAN
The 2000 movie titled “Hollow Man,” which shares similarities with H.G. Wells’ “The Invisible Man,” features Kevin Bacon as Dr. Sebastian Cain, who serves as a substitute for the character of Griffin. This film presents a classified military project aimed at developing an invisibility potion. After initial success in making an invisible gorilla visible again, the narrative unfolds with Dr. Cain and his team working on this project.
In a different phrase, here’s the scenario: Cain needs to inform his leaders about the project’s success, yet he chooses deception instead. He deceives his team into initiating human trials. As their initial test subject, Dr. Cain steps forward. The serum they developed causes Cain to become invisible, but during an attempt to reverse the effect, something malfunctions.
As time passes and Cain continues to hide, his perception of himself becomes increasingly detached from the real world, believing himself divine. He roams freely, not just in the laboratory but throughout the world, while remaining unknown to those outside it.
Watch it now on Peacock!
SLITHER
Prior to creating the “Guardians of the Galaxy” or co-managing the DC Extended Universe with Peter Safran, James Gunn introduced us to his 2006 directorial debut film, titled “Slither”. This movie tells the chilling tale of a peaceful town that becomes home to a wicked extraterrestrial force, which arrived on a meteor.
Upon reaching Wheelsy, South Carolina, a space slug with body-snatching abilities starts contaminating and controlling the town’s inhabitants, starting with influential resident Grant Grant (Michael Rooker). As the last barrier against humanity being assimilated into an ever more monstrous extraterrestrial collective consciousness, Grant’s spouse Starla (Elizabeth Banks), Police Chief Bill (Nathan Fillion), Mayor Jack MacReady (Gregg Henry), and local teen Kylie Strutemyer (Tania Saulnier) stand firm in their resistance.
Watch it now on Peacock!
KNOWING
Regardless of where you aim when tossing a dart at Nicolas Cage’s film collection, it’s impossible to predict whether you’ll end up with a heartfelt and serious movie or an extraordinary, bizarre cinematic journey. However, one guarantee is that you’re in for a fun ride! The movie “Knowing” can be considered as moderately positioned within the Cage Camp Continuum, featuring Nicolas Cage portraying a mathematician who uncovers a series of numbers capable of predicting catastrophic events with startling accuracy.
Following a relentless struggle with this cataclysmic Sudoku grid, he discerns that each number corresponds to a specific date, cosmic coordinates for planets, and the toll of every significant calamity spanning centuries. Just a handful of dates remain in the sequence before its conclusion, which also marks the end of our world.
Watch it now on Peacock!
ALIENS ABDUCTED MY PARENTS AND NOW I FEEL KINDA LEFT OUT
As a long-time resident of our humble little town, I’ve always found myself a bit on the outs. That’s me, Calvin. But then came Itsy, the fresh face from the bustling city, who seemed to shake things up in our quiet corner of the world. Despite our contrasting backgrounds, we found an unlikely friendship that grew stronger with time.
About a decade ago, Calvin’s parents vanished during the rare passing of the imaginary comet Jesper. This led Calvin to believe that his parents had been abducted by extraterrestrial beings and that he too could reunite with them when the comet appeared again. Consequently, Calvin dedicated his entire life in anticipation of the comet’s next appearance.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’m super excited to dive into an emotional journey through the cosmos penned by Austin Osanai Everett and masterfully brought to life by Jake Van Wagoner. This sci-fi tale is as otherworldly as exploring new galaxies, yet it resonates deeply with our own human experiences here on Earth.
Watch it now on Peacock!
DONNIE DARKO
Two decades post its release, Richard Kelly’s cult movie masterpiece, “Donnie Darko” (from 2001), remains intriguing enough to prompt multiple viewings and fuel late-night discussions among fans. In the year 1988, our protagonist Donnie Darko (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) is roused from sleep by an enigmatic voice. Following its guidance, he crosses paths with a peculiar, anthropomorphic rabbit called Frank who prophesies that the world will meet its end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.
In a most unusual turn of events, that meeting spared Donnie from imminent demise when an airplane engine plunged into his bedroom. This event marked the beginning of an extraordinary sequence of occurrences. These included tangling with alternate dimensions, discovering multiverse relics, dealing with time-traveling spirits, and the intertwining destinies of a young boy and the entire cosmos.
Watch it now on Peacock!
APOLLO 18
NASA’s Apollo mission, which culminated in 1972 with the safe landing of Apollo 17, was actually cut short. Three subsequent missions, Apollo 18 to 20, were cancelled prematurely. However, in Gonzalo López-Gallego’s 2011 movie Apollo 18, an alternate history is depicted where these missions continued.
Following Apollo’s official conclusion, the 18th mission was revived in secret by the Department of Defense for a clandestine objective: transporting a classified object to the Moon’s South Pole. The ensuing dramatic events offer compelling reasons why the footage was hidden and the mission remained shrouded in silence. If you are intrigued by the idea that moon landings occurred but crave a touch of conspiracy, this movie could be just the treat for you.
Watch it now on Peacock!
TURBO KID
Turbo Kid, while not technically a depiction of a future timeline, can be excused due to its extraordinary nature. The story unfolds in an alternate 1997, a world grappling with a severe water scarcity. A ruthless despot named Zeus (superbly portrayed by Michael Ironside) seizes control, exploiting the population for their water. It’s a challenging existence for any child yearning for freedom and simple pleasures like biking and comic books.
In their encounter, The Kid forms an unusual bond with Apple, a robot friend, setting off on an unconventional journey of growing up. This tale blends elements of Napoleon Dynamite and Mad Max, complete with an inexplicably amusing abundance of gore. It’s like a post-apocalyptic fantasy conjured up by an ’80s teen wearing a Power Glove – it just works perfectly.
Watch it now on Peacock!
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000
Every day can surprise us, sometimes pleasantly, other times unexpectedly challenging. In the unlikely event you’re captured by a peculiar scientific team, whisked away on a cosmic vessel, and subjected to poor films until your grasp on reality weakens, having a handful of trusted companions could prove beneficial.
In an oddly amusing predicament I found myself in, solitary and aboard a spaceship, I constructed my own companions using scraps from the vessel. These friends, Tom Servo, Crow T. Robot, and GPC, joined me later on as we endured countless B-movies together, offering witty commentary to soften the blows. What I adore about Mystery Science Theater 3000, is that it’s not just one bad movie, but a plethora of them – so many, in fact, that they eventually become bearable and even enjoyable.
Watch it now on Peacock!
UPSIDE DOWN
Juan Diego Solanas’ 2012 film “Upside Down” merges science fiction and fantasy to weave an epic love story that can only exist in our minds. The audience is drawn into the realms of “Upside Down” via the perspective of Adam (Jim Sturgess), an ordinary individual living in extraordinary conditions, residing on a double planet system with an unimaginable gravitational setup.
In these two realms, referred to simply as ‘Up’ and ‘Down’, they are bound together by a shared gravitational force, enabling them to maintain an incredibly tight orbit. However, it doesn’t imply that inhabitants of both worlds can move freely between the realms. The matter in these worlds follows certain strict guidelines.
Perhaps Adam would’ve been content with staying on a single planet, but when he encounters Eden, a woman hailing from Above, they embark on an endeavor to revise not only their societal norms but also the fundamental principles of physics.
Watch it now on Peacock!
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2024-10-04 20:48