Science fiction is a genre we have all come to love during our time with movies. Ever since the inception of special effects, directors have tried to create worlds and stories that transcend normal understanding when writing concepts. The realization of this kind of vision can be seen with old classics like Star Wars and The Matrix. The idea behind science fiction is the dream amalgamation of the two most successful genres in writing. When the concept and filmmaking complement each other in these cases, it leads to beautiful masterpieces, other times beautiful concepts are ruined by inadequate representation. Here is our list of best sci-fi movies of 2020, in no particular order.
Vivarium
The Jesse Eisenberg starrer kicks off our list with an exceptional screenplay and a lesson for everyone in setting the ambiance. Vivarium has that dystopian feel to it, where you are definitely heading down a straight path but you are also very lost. The psychological unnerving effect of the “forever home” and the promise of paradise is quite on the nose for this type of science fiction. All in all this movie is definitely worth a watch if you like movies like oblivion.
Bill and Ted face the music
Anyone who knows who Keanu Reeves is has definitely seen Bill and Ted, the original movie was a stroke of comedic genius with science fiction tropes thrown in the mix for entertainment. This new installment to the series remains quite faithful to the original as the focus of the narrative is still on their friendship. In this sequel, the duo must create a music track to stop the destruction of space and time.
Tenet
I will not spoil the masterpiece of Christopher Nolan but I can tell you that the movie is about modifying the concept of time and messing with it. I have already said too much but know that Christopher Nolan brings something new to the time travel genre and tenet is not your average story. So take the critic reviews with a grain of salt and go catch this flick in the theatres.
The Platform
Anyone who was stuck at home during the pandemic lockdown might have come across this gem on Netflix. The Platform is not your average science fiction prison story, it is not even your average psychological thriller, it is utterly unique in its setting and in its story. The delivery of the concept is unparalleled and you feel the anxiety of the main character as he navigates through cellmates and their ever-changing allegiances. At its core platform is a jab at trickle-down economics and how things actually end up happening in the real world.
Love and Monsters
The science fiction genre is notorious for expectation subversion. At first look, it seems that love and monsters will be a coming of age story of a boy who learns to battle monsters but after watching the movie I can safely conclude that it was definitely not what I expected. The presentation is too fun for the heavy-handed concepts of the movie and this works surprisingly well.
Archive
Gavin Rothery arrives at the filmmaking scene with this debut. Archive seems to be a modern take on the Ex Machina style of movie-making. Essentially it’s a rehash of the AI-driven science fiction narrative. The story tries to do great things and often takes some leaps in logic but at the end presents a cohesive whole. This was one of those that caught me by complete surprise.
Synchronic
Synchronic is a new take on a very old trope. The movie is about a couple of paramedics that investigate a series of weird incidents. They are, in their pursuit of truth, are brought to a drug that can alter the very fabric of reality. Then things take a turn for the weird. This is the kind of subtle storytelling that is so appreciated by sci-fi fans.
The Invisible Man
Over the years we have received a lot of iterations of the Invisible man character created by H.G. Wells. This particular version brings to life the story told by the author. There is not much to say about this one because you already know it. It is horrifying and yet completely awesome.
Possessor
Fans of Rick and Morty will be delighted to know that this movie is directed by none other than David Cronenberg’s son Brandon Cronenberg. The man is a savant of creating horror movies and his influence or rather legacy is readily apparent in this movie about identity crisis and the horrors of modern technology.
Color out of space
Color out of space is a delight for a horror fan and a trip for an absurdist. The best thing about horror is that sometimes it gives us things we cannot possibly decipher, that is the case with this movie that presents us with an impossible setting and things that should not exceed. Somethings are better experienced than read.
