6 best science fiction films about a future that has already arrived

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

On the street for a long time already the second millennium. The technological future that science fiction writers and filmmakers of the past dreamed of has already come. Don't believe me? And we will prove it! Our today's selection contains not so long ago films shot in the style of the popular science fiction genre, which very colorfully describe the pictures of the modern world.

"In someone else's skin" (2020)

A naturalistic and intriguing technotriller with horror elements from Cronenberg Jr. The director continues the theme of reflections on the role of technology in human society. The plot of the film (original title - "The Owner") is not particularly sophisticated, but it touches on many problems of the modern world: a mysterious company invents a new method of murder, introducing a chip into the bodies of people - future killers.

The first problem arises - one of the old trusted employees, on whose conscience there are many penetrations into the human brain, suddenly begins to lose touch with the real world. The hero of her new assignment, played by Christopher Abbott, unexpectedly resists and fights for his mind, disrupting assignments over and over again. But this is not important for our research.

A parallel with today can be found by following the main character. In one of the episodes, she is sent to his work in the body of a client, where she must monitor the curtains of clients. With the help of hidden cameras, the company's employees track the brands and types of curtains, forming a database. It is quite understandable that this is a type of targeted advertising and a way to manage public needs. And also an ironic allusion to the problems of transparency in society.

"Network" (1995)

Of course, we could not ignore this film. It clearly identifies questions about network security. The most obvious prediction from this action movie is the internet's ability to get your lunch. Now it is commonplace, but back in 1995 ordering food at home was another problem. The film also tells about the omnipotence of the Internet, about the creation of viruses and Trojans and possible hacking of the security systems of financial institutions and government agencies. Some moments from this prediction have already come true, but something else is yet to come true. But the most memorable part of the film was the predicted ability to create a digital profile of a person with all possible data - from home address and phone to personal preferences.

"She" (2013)

The idea that director Spike Jonze conceived back in the early 2000s, with some adjustments for modernity, was implemented in 2013. The bizarre fantasy plot has won an Oscar and many other awards. But, I think, thoughtful film critics were inspired not by the novel of the protagonist performed by Joaquin Phoenix with the operating system, but by completely eternal human problems: loneliness, inability to listen to the words of the interlocutor, selfish attitude to love.

Nevertheless, in the once fantastic prediction about the possibility of communication and even friendship and love with an electronic mind in the light of today's development of neural networks and artificial intelligence, it does not seem so far away. And many in this picture will be able to see their current self - the film tells about the incredible attachment of a modern person to technology: real smiles are replaced by emoticons, sincere hugs are replaced by words in asterisks, and warm words are replaced by a set of suitable phrases offered by a phone or computer. And is the future so far away when digital technologies take root in us, and we cannot live without our Samantha, Alice or Marusya?

Destroyer, 1993

Freezing in a cryo chamber and the subsequent return to life of the main characters - a gangster and a policeman - is just one of the coincidences with the present (we will assume that the solution with "cryonics" is a matter of the near future, since this technology is already successfully used in medicine). Further in the plot, we come across references to the already routine video communication, the use of “smart home” systems, when the light is turned on by one magic wave of the hand or a voice command, the implantation of subcutaneous chips - all these “tricks” are already widely used in the modern world.

Another curious fact, not related to new technology, was the appearance in the picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role of president. Well, let's assume that Arnie himself blundered, taking the post of only the governor of California. It is especially interesting that all these nuances were predicted by a completely non-sci-fi film almost twenty years ago, it is now more likely to be classified as action movies of the 90s, yes and it probably is gathering dust in the drawer for videotapes. Or maybe shake the old days and watch these dusty films at least passing them through the prism of new science fiction?

"Strangers Among Us", 1988

Future. Alien invaders, through know-how technology, invade the life of every inhabitant of the earth. The essence of their technological method is to introduce into the human consciousness the principles of a consumer society - literally all mass advertising, television, banknotes - everything is permeated with slogans-suggestions: "Do not think", "Consume", "Obey". In such a unique way, the alien mind wants to buy the earth from people for a pittance, in order to then control weak-willed and thoughtless creatures.

Director John Carpenter has found a very ironic way to discern who the "Aliens" are: to do this, you need to peer at your neighbors, looking at them through high-tech glasses, and finally discover a real world, saturated through and through with agitation, hidden messages and outright propaganda. Hmm … Isn't there a direct parallel with modern society? Is it possible to call everything that is happening in the world now fantastic, when any information from TV channels or print media imposes its opinion, each package of products contains the message of marketers "Buy me", and the Internet is replete with advice "Do it this way and not otherwise." Perhaps Carpenter was an excellent visionary, but he could hardly imagine that everything would turn out that way.

"Minority opinion", 2002

Steven Spielberg's film, based on the novel by Philip Dick, surprises not by the development of a new police system capable of predicting future crimes. However, similar know-how - forecasting future processes - has long been used in business and other areas of our life. But another, which has already become quite real, coincidence with the present, is the prediction of the development of image recognition technologies. However, as we see in the film, scientific progress brings with it not only an improvement in the quality of life, but also negative tendencies: infringement of personal freedom, independence of action, free thought and confidentiality. It seems that these are precisely the problems that will become key in the present century.