(RNN) - The release of the movie The Hunger Games has many people excited to watch a dystopian society watch teenagers kill each other on a reality show set up by the government to remind us who's boss.
It's the latest in a long line of Hollywood fare that uses our fear of the future against us.
The term "dystopian" is getting tossed around because those who haven't read the addictive trilogy are horrified that people are excited for the release of the films – maybe because teenagers are involved.
If you're unfamiliar with the term, it is the exact opposite of utopia. My utopia is a land of chocolate that doesn't make you fat, but the term generally means societal and governmental perfection. Dystopia means people are living fearful, dehumanizing lives.
These movies seem to be a reaction to everything we humans fear as the world evolves faster than we can keep pace.
Not many dystopian movies have a happy ending, so if you're looking for good to triumph, check with your friends or IMDB before watching a movie in this genre.
In the myriad of movies that could be classified as dystopian (Terminator, Clockwork Orange, Planet of the Apes, RoboCop, Fahrenheit 451, Total Recall, The Handmaid's Tale, 1984, Gattaca, just to name a handful) many have similar themes:
Oppressive government
Usually, there's been some sort of upheaval, and those with the power don't like the rebels, so there's an overreaching, totalitarian government that won't allow books, thoughts, art, different races, women to have power over their reproductive rights, religion or personal items.
If it's socio-economic, there is a giant schism between those with money and the worker bees.
If it's a rebellion, the rebels are either killed, made to be slaves, or become game show contestants on reality shows that could feasibly be picked up in the television fall season.
The government likes homogeny, and it can take the form of brainwashing, pills, propaganda, public killings or people disappearing.
(A subset of this is military and corporations. Lately, corporations are the new totalitarian government; they corrupt, rule and wipe memories for a buck.)
- Examples: V for Vendetta, 1984, Metropolis, Fahrenheit 451, Brazil, Serenity, The Handmaid's Tale
Scant resources
Whether it's water, oil, land, babies or food, something we humans need to function or survive becomes scarce. The totalitarianism regime rises to ostensibly provide for the masses.
- Examples: Mad Max, Waterworld, Children of Men
Anarchy
No laws, no government – lots of biker gangs, and someone has to stand up to them, usually while wearing leather or something torn.
- Example: All of the Mad Max movies
Cloning
Oh, boy, are we afraid of that. There is usually a big debate in the movies over whether the clones are people and should be treated humanely.
- Examples: The Island, Never Let Me Go
Erased memories
Usually, the government has come in and remade the main character's memory, and we watch as they struggle to uncover the truth and overthrow/escape/triumph in the end.
- Examples: Total Recall, Dark City, Paycheck
Technology
This seems to fold into the other themes. Technology has taken over humanity; government is using it to push their agenda; brainwash the people; spy on the people; replace people, etc.
- Examples: The Matrix, Total Recall, Blade Runner, Terminator, I, Robot
Makes you want to put down your smartphone or iPad and walk around outside, doesn't it?
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The Hunger Games features a dystopian society where teenagers are forced to fight each other to the death. (Source: Lions Gate)
