TOTAL RECALL the 2012 edition keeps close to the original source and doesn’t send its protagonists and antagonists off to Mars. Instead, the end of 21st century sees the survival of only two places on earth – United Federation of Britain and The Colony (set in what we know as Australia). But what other films feature Britain as the epicentre of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic activity? We take a look.
H.G. Wells’ WAR OF THE WORLDS
The year: 1989
What happened? Martian invasion
The Verdict: Whilst the film adaptations have relocated the story, the original book was set in and around London. Reflecting the increasing feeling of anxiety and insecurity as international tensions between European Imperial powers escalated towards the outbreak of the First World War, the story is one of the most sophisticated and visionary of its time.
28 DAYS LATER
The year: 2002
What happened? Virus outbreak
The Verdict: One man fights to save all of England – a feat only Simon Pegg is capable of performing whilst keeping the audiences in stitches. Nice one.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
The year: 2004
What happened? Zombie invasion
The Verdict: Scenes of deserted and war-torn London are chilling and make for a brilliant take on this version of the future.
CHILDREN OF MEN
The year: 2027
What happened? Human infertility
The Verdict: United Kingdom id one of the few surviving stable nations with a functioning government in this envisioning of the future. Although, soon becoming a policed state Britain is not the safe haven for future generations.
TOTAL RECALL
The year: End of 21st century
What happened? Third World War
The Verdict: Although not many places in Britain are safe in this version of the post-apocalyptic world, it offers the surviving population a brighter future, but what will happen when a factory worker Dennis Quaid discovers that not all is as it seems…
TOTAL RECALL is in UK cinemas now.
