Nine years after alien forces invaded and colonised Earth, an underground movement stealthily plans an attack to fight back.
This is not the “cinema of attractions”. No Independence Day (1996) effects with marching songs while shouting “we will fight” narrative. Captive State focuses on the world’s political and socio-economic state after the extra-terrestrials colonisation, leaving out the early terraforming practices. As stated next to the title, it is a sci-fi/thriller and not an action film. Political-espionage case scenarios resembling Europe just before WWII cannot be avoided.
The acting, photography, and directing are solid. If you asked me what I think it lacks the most, I would say emotional investment. I found it hard to engage with the main characters, as they were underdeveloped. Also, the master plan gets too complicated on occasion, even though it offers the desired twist. I guess the script could have gone through a few more rewrites.
A perfect example of a groundbreaking sci-fi/thriller came only ten years before Captive State and it is none other than District 9 (2009) – Neill Blomkamp’s finest film to date.
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Solidarity for all the innocent lives who suffer the atrocities of war!
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