Another World (2014)

A biological warfare experiment blows up

"Another World" (2015) is what happens when the apocalypse forgets to bring a sense of originality but still shows up to the party high on its own paranoia. Picture this: a biological warfare experiment blows up in humanity’s face, society collapses like a folding chair at a biker rally, and the Earth is left to four vaguely defined archetypes who look like they walked off the set of a low-budget shampoo commercial. The infected—soulless, screeching, ex-human ghouls—are less Romero and more background noise, a constant threat but never quite terrifying. Think The Road if it took place inside a warehouse in Tel Aviv with a bit of Blade Runner cosplay thrown in for flavor.

As our gang of survivors sulks and snarls their way through the wreckage of civilization, the plot stumbles into a half-mystical fifth wheel: a mysterious survivor who knows “the truth.” Cue slow pans, gritty monologues, and just enough blood spray to qualify for the midnight horror section. It’s a gritty sci-fi cocktail made with recycled parts, shaken with conviction, and served with a straight face. You can tell it wants to be deep—there’s a whiff of biblical allegory and anti-war commentary—but it’s mostly just a stylish gun show in a world that died from its own stupidity.

directed by: Eitan Reuven
cast: Zach Cohen, Susanne Gschwendtner, Davina Kevelson, Carl McCrystal
extra: Israeli indie production; cult status among post-apocalyptic purists; zero Oscar buzz but plenty of heavy synth.