These sci-fi films may not be on your radar.
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00:00 When we think of great sci-fi, our minds are often cast back to the 1980s. With movies
00:05 like The Thing, The Terminator and Aliens, it was clear that decade was a golden age
00:09 for the genre. But there are lesser-known sci-fi films that came out recently which
00:14 deserved a lot more recognition. Considering so many of these movies are available on streaming
00:19 services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, there's nothing stopping you checking them out right
00:24 this second.
00:25 So with that in mind, I'm Ellie with WhatCulture and here are 10 recent sci-fi movies you probably
00:31 haven't seen.
00:32 10. In the Shadow of the Moon
00:35 In the Shadow of the Moon begins with a cop called Locke whose night patrol starts like
00:40 any other night. But when three random people across the city suddenly die after their brains
00:45 melt from the inside, Locke can't make heads or tails over what killed them. For the next
00:50 20 years, he obsesses over the case, unaware his actions will shape the world's future.
00:55 If you went into this film cold, you wouldn't have the slightest clue you were watching
00:59 sci-fi. Until the end, the story plays out like a detective thriller. But as the science
01:04 fiction qualities slowly but surely seep into the plot, you realise what Locke is dealing
01:08 with is far from ordinary police work.
01:11 Like most great mysteries, In the Shadow of the Moon has a perfect balance of not revealing
01:15 too much until the climax while simultaneously maintaining intrigue from the opening scene.
01:21 Even though the film deals with some complex scientific concepts and profound theories,
01:25 it focuses on Locke's struggle above all else, giving the viewer a deeper connection
01:29 to the story.
01:30 9. Code 8
01:32 Code 8 works like a more realistic version of X-Men. In this world, super-powered individuals
01:37 - or powers - don't use their abilities to battle super-villains or aliens. Instead,
01:42 they are assigned jobs which fit their skill set. Since super-humans took all the big jobs,
01:47 countless non-powered people are made redundant, causing a lot of resentment in society.
01:52 When powers are replaced themselves by robots called Guardians, which work like the X-Men's
01:56 Sentinels, they are figuratively tossed onto the street, forcing many of them to turn to
02:01 crime to survive.
02:03 If you were bored of formulaic CGI-filled superhero flicks but still enjoyed the core
02:07 concept, Code 8 is the movie for you. It performs better world-building in the first five minutes
02:13 than most blockbusters manage in their entirety. The special effects are used sparingly, but
02:17 always look slick and polished.
02:19 Also, if you're a fan of CW's Arrowverse, Code 8 has siblings Stephen and Robbie Amell
02:24 as the two leads. The only real detriment is the film only clocks in at 98 minutes.
02:30 Because the filmmakers created such a magnificent world, it's a shame the viewers didn't
02:33 get a chance to see more of it.
02:35 8. Spectral
02:37 Spectral centres on a supernatural black ops team who fight ghosts. Based on the premise
02:42 alone, you'd think this is the sort of trashy B-movie churned out by Asylum Studios. But
02:47 Spectral works because everything is played straight. When the military first detect the
02:51 Phantoms on a Spectral camera, they assume they're just a glitch. When the apparitions
02:55 begin attacking soldiers, the government officials assume they're dealing with a human enemy
02:59 with cloaking technologies. When the officials realise the threat is supernatural, they refuse
03:04 to tell their men, believing they won't take the mission seriously. Unsurprisingly,
03:08 this lack of communication prevents the soldiers from being prepared for the metaphysical threat,
03:13 causing many of them to die needlessly.
03:15 Instead of filling the runtime with excessive backstories and forced banter, Spectral jumps
03:20 into the action straight away and rarely lets up. Since the enemy is invisible and can kill
03:25 anyone it touches, every scene is dripping with tension. Even though once-respected sci-fi
03:30 franchises like The Terminator and The Matrix have been chucking out pointless and bloated
03:34 sequels in recent years, creative films like Spectral prove the genre still has plenty
03:39 to offer.
03:40 7. Prospect
03:42 In Prospect, a teenage girl called Cee finds herself stuck on an alien planet. Out of desperation,
03:48 she is forced to ally with Ezra, the man who's indirectly responsible for her father's death.
03:54 From the very beginning, the sci-fi aspect is on full display, but as the plot unfolds,
03:58 it focuses more on Ezra and Cee building a relationship despite their heated conflict.
04:04 Even though Ezra could be depicted as irredeemable, Pedro Pascal has no difficulty finding the
04:09 character's humanity, making you deeply care about him even though his duplicity makes
04:14 it impossible to tell where his loyalty truly lies.
04:18 Because of the shoestring budget - under $4 million - the special effects are minimal.
04:23 However, fans of the genre won't feel cheated at all since the powerhouse performances of
04:27 the leads are guaranteed to keep anyone enthralled.
04:31 Since Prospect isn't well-known, it's no surprise it failed to make a splash upon its
04:35 release back in 2018. But due to its subtle world-building, sharp script, non-cliched
04:40 characters and nuanced performances, it's gradually earning a reputation as an under-appreciated
04:46 gem in the genre.
04:48 6. Oxygen
04:51 Oxygen opens with a woman called Liz awakening in a sealed chamber. She is informed by an
04:55 artificial intelligence unit that she will run out of air in under two hours.
04:59 At first, the premise sounds identical to Ryan Reynolds' Buried, save for the futuristic
05:05 setting. But Oxygen has one difference that stops it from feeling like a carbon copy.
05:09 In this film, Liz doesn't know who she is, meaning she cannot begin to guess why she's
05:14 been placed in such a container. She doesn't even know if her chamber is in a science lab,
05:18 underground or outer space.
05:20 Not only that, her AI is programmed to avoid answering key questions, forcing Liz to speak
05:26 to the computer in a roundabout way to uncover the truth.
05:29 When Liz starts to piece everything together, the viewer might feel like the story will
05:33 lose its appeal, since the mystery is gone. But don't worry, Oxygen keeps throwing curveballs
05:38 at you until the last few minutes, not giving the viewer a moment to relax.
05:43 With an intricate script, a phenomenal performance from Melanie Laurent and creative direction,
05:48 Oxygen is guaranteed to keep viewers engaged from start to finish.
05:52 Number 5. Advantageous
05:55 Advantageous is set in a future where most of humanity is suffering with poverty and
05:59 infertility. When a mother called Gwen loses her job and is unable to secure an education
06:04 for her daughter, she agrees to an experimental procedure which will transfer her mind into
06:08 a better, younger body.
06:10 When the transfer is successful, Gwen assumes her whole life will turn out for the better.
06:15 Unfortunately, this is not the case. One problem which many futuristic films suffer is how
06:20 they overstuff scenes with an ostentatious amount of special effects, which can be quite
06:24 distracting. After all, it's hard to get invested in a character's story while there are flying
06:29 cars zooming around in the background.
06:31 Even though Advantageous is set in the dystopian future, the visuals and the post-apocalyptic
06:36 angle are heavily downplayed, making the story more relatable. In fact, the movie focuses
06:41 so much on the characters, it's easy to forget that the story takes place in the future.
06:46 It effectively juggles themes about racism, ageism, and class conflict while never taking
06:51 away from the fundamental story.
06:54 Number 4. Level 16
06:56 Level 16 revolves around an all-girls militaristic facility called the Vestalis Academy. All
07:01 the students are trained by the facilitators to have feminine virtues to help them get
07:06 adopted. Even though the overseers are abhorrently strict and cruel, the girls obey them without
07:11 question, believing the academy is their only chance of having a real family. But when one
07:16 teenager, Vivian, suspects her mentors are hiding something from her, she does all she
07:20 can to expose their true intentions.
07:23 Level 16 plays out like a much smarter version of Michael Bay's The Island. The premise
07:28 may be similar, but Level 16 feels more like a psychological drama akin to Black Mirror
07:33 rather than a sci-fi flick. Even though the horror factor could have been ramped up, it
07:37 is rarely utilised, which makes the scary parts far more disturbing.
07:41 Because the girls are meant to be emotionless and laconic, it would be easy for the characters
07:45 to come across as dull. But due to the film's talented ensemble, especially the lead Katie
07:50 Douglas, the cast invoke a lot of emotion while saying very little.
07:55 Number 3. Freaks
07:57 Freaks begins with a young girl called Chloe being forced by her father to memorise details
08:01 about her fake mother. When she can't answer a basic question about sport, her dad tells
08:06 Chloe her behaviour is going to get her killed. Although her father tells Chloe very little
08:11 about the outside world, she believes he is just keeping her safe. But there's still
08:14 many things she doesn't understand. What is so dangerous out there? Why does Chloe
08:19 sometimes wake up in a different house? Why does a chained woman appear in her room sometimes?
08:24 It's better to go into Freaks blind, since being aware of the premise will spoil the
08:28 film's many surprises.
08:30 Even though the viewer knows for a fact that not everything is as it seems, the plot goes
08:33 in directions which the most attentive viewer won't expect. For the majority of the movie,
08:38 it's impossible to tell if the characters around Chloe are evil or they are genuinely
08:42 trying to protect her. The big reveal may not be particularly original, but it doesn't
08:47 feel anticlimactic, since the film forces the viewer to be completely invested in Chloe's
08:51 journey of self-discovery.
08:52 Number 2. What Happened to Monday?
08:56 What Happened to Monday takes place in a world where overpopulation has forced the world's
09:00 governments to issue a law so families can only bear one child. After a woman dies giving
09:06 birth to identical septuplets, their grandfather Terrence takes them in and names them after
09:11 the seven days of the week. To avoid the government learning of the children's existence, Terrence
09:16 orders each of them to venture out in public on the day they're named after. Monday goes
09:20 out on Monday, Tuesday goes out on Tuesday, etc, etc, so they can pretend they're all
09:25 the same person. After living in secret for 30 years, Monday disappears, jeopardizing
09:30 the family's life.
09:32 Even though What Happened to Monday has fluid action and an inventive world, it's the performances
09:37 that stand out. Although Willem Dafoe is known for playing larger-than-life characters, films
09:41 like this prove he's equally as talented at portraying someone more down-to-earth. However,
09:46 it's impossible for Noomi Rapace not to dominate the film since she plays the septuplets. Even
09:52 though playing multiple parts can cause an actor to overact to define each of them, Rapace
09:56 makes all seven characters feel like human beings rather than caricatures.
10:00 1. I Am Mother
10:02 I Am Mother centers around an android called Mother who cares for a girl called Daughter
10:07 in a secluded facility after human civilization has been destroyed. Even though the robot
10:12 seems devoted to Daughter, an encounter with a mysterious woman makes her realize Mother
10:17 may not be as benevolent as she appears.
10:20 As intriguing as the premise is, I Am Mother's could come across as boring due to its minimal
10:25 sets and cast. Thankfully, the phenomenal performances of Hilary Swank and Clara Rugaard
10:30 will ensure viewers are absolutely captivated. However, Swank isn't the standout for once.
10:36 Despite being a two-time Oscar-winning actress, it's Mother who dominates the film. With her
10:41 unblinking eye and clanking movements, she's guaranteed to keep the viewer on edge. Her
10:46 gentle voice makes her more unnerving, especially when she justifies actions that are suspicious
10:50 or immoral.
10:51 Even though Mother is just a guy in a suit, the practical effects are so good, the average
10:57 viewer would assume the robot is 100% CGI. When you realize this character was brought
11:02 to life mostly through animatronics and practical effects, you appreciate the film even more.
11:07 And that concludes our list. If you can think of any other examples, then do let us know
11:11 in the comments below. And while you're there, don't forget to like and subscribe and tap
11:15 that notification bell. Also, head over to Twitter and follow us there, and I can be
11:18 found across various social medias just by searching Ellie Littlechild. I've been Ellie
11:23 with What Culture, I hope you have a magical day, and I'll see you real soon.