District 9: The Right Way to do Science FIction

I've been a fan of Science Fiction movies for a large portion of my life, but each of them tends to fall short. It ends up cheesy, dorky, or unrelatable. Bad dialogue, terrible acting, and a lack of heart plague the genre. It feels too unrelatable to get fully engulfed into the majority of Science Fiction movies. Not only does District 9 break each stereotype tainting the genre, it creates a universe that feels so real, that I believe it's how the world would react if aliens did land here.

This film opens like no other of its kind, other than Interstellar 5 years after. The documentary style creates a feeling that no words can describe, convincing the viewers subconscious that this is actually happening. We learn the history of this strange race of alien they call the Prawn, and this demilitarized zone they call District 9. In this land, the Prawn who came down from the ship are crammed into these slums, run by gangs. Fear and violence against the aliens occurs, and horrible actions between both species continue to happen. This zone feels so real, and so accurate to how the world would react. As humans, we unfortunately do not tend to treat what is new well, and we cast out that which we do know. The dynamic between the Prawn and the people is, I believe, an accurate representation of human nature.

After we learn the dynamic between humans and Prawn, we are introduced to this character, Wikus - a wealthy, well loved and respected bureaucrat. We don't know what Wikus has done, but the documentary lets us know he isn't looked well upon anymore. The writing itches the viewers curiosity, leaving us curious to what Wikus did.

Sharlto Copley’s performance as Wikus is a standout. His transformation from an enthusiastic bureaucrat to a desperate fugitive evokes a deep sense of empathy, displaying the moral complexities of his character as he grapples with his own privilege and complicity in the oppression of others. The film’s gritty, documentary-style cinematography further enhances its realism, immersing the viewer in a world that feels disturbingly familiar.

The film descends down an adrenaline-filled spiral in which we see the abuse and horror that the people are invoking upon the Prawn. We see it from both sides - the side of the "civilized" government, and the side of the "uncivilized" gangs that run District 9. I keep that in quotes, because starved dogs are more civilized than the suit and ties here. The film doesn't hold back, forcing the audience to see the grotesque and violent human nature; with us wanting to look away but unable to.

The film is set in South Africa, Johannesburg, to be precise. This is important, since the whole message of the movie is based around South African apartheid. The film’s brilliance lies in its ability to draw parallels between the struggles of the Prawns and the experiences of marginalized communities during apartheid. The Prawn, depicted with a mix of sympathy and horror, face discrimination and violence at the hands of both the government and society - both the gangs and the civilians. This reflection of real-world issues is both haunting and thought-provoking.

Blomkamp’s direction balances action and social critique, creating tension that keeps viewers engaged while prompting reflection on the nature of humanity. The film's use of visual metaphors—like Wikus's sick combination of human and Prawn—deepens the allegory, making it resonate on multiple levels.

District ultimately challenges viewers to consider the consequences of fear and intolerance, making it a relevant commentary, even 15 years later. It’s a film that doesn’t shy away from discomfort, and in doing so, it invites us to think about our own human nature, forcing us to confront it. In this way, it stands as not just a sci-fi thriller, but a significant cultural critique that lingers long after the credits roll.

I love this movie.

Butter Pop