Lemuel Demesus A. Lomeda
Have you been feeling like you’re trapped in a never-ending time loop, reliving the same day over and over again? Every day looks and feels the same and it’s driving you nuts. You can’t go out and do anything else because the pandemic has forced you to stay home. You’re looking for ways to enjoy yourself and watching movies is on top of your list. You’re asking yourself, “what should I watch?” The better question is, “what kind?”
Pandemic movies. This film subgenre was recently reclassified because people nowadays show a preference to watch pandemic-themed movies. Amy Semetz, American actress, writer, and producer said in an article in The New York Times, “I needed to feel those emotions, like loss and sadness and fear. I think suppressing them sort of makes you more anxious, so there’s a cathartic element to watching something like ‘Contagion,’ which I found strangely comforting.” Watching these kinds of movies, helps you deal with the situation or at least, makes it tolerable. It reminds you about what’s currently happening yet in some way, comforts you.
Here are five awesome movies you can watch to chase those blues away:
1. Train to Busan (2016)
South Korean Cinema has recently burst into the forefront of popular culture due to the phenomenon of “Parasite,” a winner of the 92 Academy Award for Best Picture. “Train to Busan” was the precursor and equally as popular. It’s a simple story of a man trying to be the best father he could be, while on a bullet train during a zombie outbreak. Look out for its sequel “Peninsula” coming soon to a theater near you (which might still happen in 2021).
2. World War Z (2013)
Oh, Brad Pitt. Women love him and men want to be like him. He’s often typecasted in playing roles that magnify his golden boy looks, like “Legends of the Fall” or “Troy.” But playing a former United Nations investigator who must travel around the world to find a cure to stop the zombie pandemic? You can count me in! This was based on a horror novel by American author Max Brooks, son of legendary comedy director Mel Brooks. There was a sequel planned but got canceled reportedly because of budget issues.
3. 12 Monkeys (1995)
Another movie with Brad Pitt in it, but a supporting role. (He does have a good eye in picking roles). Bruce Willis is the lead in this post-apocalyptic, time-traveling, sci-fi thriller. He must travel back in time to find a cure and stop a deadly viral outbreak. The ’90s was the decade when Bruce Willis was at his peak, with leading roles in “Armageddon” (1998) and “The Sixth Sense” (1999) that turned huge profits at the box office. There was a TV series made on Syfy which aired on 2015-2018.
4. Contagion (2011)
This movie seems eerily prescient, with some scenes mirroring today’s events. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, there has been a renewed interest in this movie and surged to the top of the iTunes rentals charts. This is a reunion of sorts for Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow who had last worked together in “The Talented Mr. Ripley.”
5. Outbreak (1995)
Same with “Contagion,” the movie surged in popularity after the current pandemic hit. Both have the same subject matter, have great casts, but the difference is that this movie is fast-paced and thrilling like a real movie. “Contagion” has a slow-paced, documentary-style tone that might turn off some people. Yet both movies are still engaging and never boring. Betsy, the capuchin monkey in the movie, also appeared on the TV series “Friends” as Marcel, Ross’ pet.
How about you? What other pandemic movies do you recommend?
