Science Fiction

Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo might not be an obvious place to start a thesis on science fiction movies. Presenter Mark Kermode argues that Vertigo and a scene where time is discussed in a non linear pattern has been very influential.

Chris Marker's 1962 short film La Jetée was inspired by Vertigo. It was then remade by Terry Gilliam as 12 Monkeys. A dystopian futuristic time travel thriller.

Kermode goes through influential sci-fi movies. Metropolis, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris, Blade Runner. He also highlights how the genre could be successfully mixed up. Back to the Future bought in comedy and the rom-com. It lovingly recreated the 1950s as Marty McFly tries to bring his parents together.

In Alien, Ridley Scott bought horror in a film that was in part inspired by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. To create his style he had two competing production designers. H R Giger being a heavy inspiration for the design of the creature.

What Kermode effortlessly does here is guide the viewer from the very beginning. A trip to the moon by Georges Méliès to the latest sci fi films such as Gravity, Arrival and even Black Panther, a movie that features the neglected area of race in sci-fi.

I enjoyed this program, it was informative and interesting and I like the way Kermode weaved his narrative.