Aftermath

OK, so here goes, my first review. I could have chosen a thousand better movies to review, so why this one? Well, as an apocalyptic movie goes, this is the second most depressing film about nuclear war that I have ever seen. The first being an animated film (yes I know how that sounds!), When the wind blows by Raymond Briggs (the guy who wrote The Snowman), It's one of the saddest films I have ever seen. Anyhoo back to The Aftermath, some scenes are pretty far fetched. There is no real explanation as to why events take place. The characters are not fully developed and a ton of other minor foibles, but that being said, this is a film that makes you think, what would you do?. Would you try and battle through?, would you resign yourself to the inevitable? or would you curl up and die? Pretty depressing stuff all in all, but in this climate, in which we are destroying ourselves by the minute, it is an all too realistic scenario. Unfortunately.

Apocalypse movies are meant to have explosions, huge special effects and people fleeing from one place to the next to survive!!!....well if you are looking for that sort of apocalyptic survival movie you have stumbled to the wrong place. Ultimately the movie stars 9 peps in a cellar for one and half hours...which is quite realistic I suppose but realism is kinda boring hence the point of watch a movie to "escape from reality" Kudos to the make up team - the actors and actresses did look like they were slow succumbing to the effects of radiation. However the acting at times was just strange, especially when they are fighting off people - they seem to go all Rambo then at other times they seem quite timid. So if you want to watch a movie and have all hope washed away then sit back and enjoy the micro-scale fall of humanity.

It's a pretty good and honest "what if".

But, Furlong's work here is great. He's got solid acting chops.

I just wonder with Dark Fate, is there nobody in Hollywood that can put these pieces together? You want your sheboot? Well fine, why not have a John Connor who didn't have the life he was grown up to expect and has become a drunk ass loser?

It's not that Hollywood is out of ideas, Hollywood is too fat and flabby to even know the difference. This is just embarrassing.

"Aftermath" cannot really stand up to films like The Day After or Threads, nor books like Alas Babylon or On The Beach or One Minute After, but it does alright. The movie's success is to serve as a warning to avoid nuclear war. I wasn't going to comment until I saw a 1/10 review grumping about smoking around a pregnant woman; was the commenter oblivious to the ionizing radiation permeating the countryside? If it ever comes to this, pray you go out in a blazing flash. Misery awaits those who survive the initial exchange. 6/10

I am usually one who will see a flood of 1/10 stars, then a few 10/10s and typically believe the 1/10s are being more honest...but in this occasion, I have no clue what anyone who hates this film was thinking!

As someone who grew up with a, "prepper" Father (he even had a small cinderblock fall out shelter in our basement) I feel like I've alwats had a better idea than the average person on what would happen in the event of a nuclear attack, and how to handle it (the best we can...)

That said, this movie hits pretty much all the DOs and DONTs of what would be expected by people with a little knowledge, while of course keeping it a fictional, entertaining film at the same time...there is a balance that must be walked between a fun film, and reality...this film did it very well. So all those talking about the film or bashing its realism ..read a book. Those saying how it's too depressing...are you not aware a Nuclear holocaust is basically as close to "THE END" as we will likely ever get!?!?

So the review of the film itself as a film...it was very enjoyable!

Pacing It starts off immediately, infact it starts so fast that one of the few areas I could see someone be turned off by is he never really get to KNOW most of the people...but they do give us just enough info to care...I felt. And I'll take that trade off for no 30 minute boring build up! So for pacing I give it 9/10

Acting Like any low budget, the acting will never be A+ but it was more than passable, I very rarely had any frustrating moments with the cast 7/10

Story This is where it really shines, the story was very believable in my opinion. From the blindness of the flash, to the radiation sickness... to food and water being accounted for, lights, bathroom etc. all is accounted for which was impressive. Nothing was cheesy, nothing was over the top. However, keep in mind - this is NOT a "popcorn flick" or a date movie. Be prepared for depressive vibes. 10/10

If you're into end of the world types, or people holed up in a small space, or survival types (without all the corny battles, and zombies, etc. then I say give this a shot!! I honestly don't see how anyone can rate this BELOW a 6...