MovieChat Forums > Beyond the Black Rainbow (2011) Discussion > 70's *cold* Sci-Fi

70's cold Sci-Fi

posted 11 years ago by Doctor-T-
11 replies | jump to latest

This movie really hit a certain vibe that I remember from some serious sci-fi that got made before Star Wars turned Sci-Fi into comic book action and destruction porn.

They had a very cold analytical feel, minimalist/scientific settings, little or sporadic action, interesting ideas that seemed possible enough to create an ominous mood that lingered in your mind. They often with an open ended conclusion, not the typical "the good guys won".

Colossus - The Forbin Project (1970)
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
THX1138 (1971)
The Hellstrom Chronicle (1971)
Phase IV (directed by Saul Bass!) (1974)
The Demon Seed (1977)

Any others ?

*
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[–] txsiimk 11 years ago

logan's run, zardoz?

[–] ChipDouglas (1607) 3 years ago

[–] thomas-r-lee 11 years ago

Solaris, Stalker.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kim_and_Tom 11 years ago

Thanks. I appreciate the post and will use as recommendations!

[–] deejaydubla-441-978503 10 years ago

I'll see your Tarkovsky and raise you a Cronenberg.

Also....
The Element of Crime.
World On a Wire.
The Last Battle.
Blade Runner (obviously).
The Sender.
Brainstorm.
Silent Running.
Alphaville.
The Quiet Earth.
Delicatessen.
The Man Who Fell to Earth.

There are loads more I'm forgetting, undoubtedly, but few films are quite this over-stylized and purposefully avant garde. Watching it again, it strikes me that there's something very Italian about the visual aesthetic, too. If Dario Argento or Mario Bava had directed THX1138 instead of George Lucas, it would probably would have looked something like this.

Also I must add that if you liked this film, you'll probably like Under the Skin. Not quite as retro, but every bit as dark, opaque, and disturbing.

[–] dark76 8 years ago

I like the "If Dario Argento or Mario Bava had directed THX1138 instead of George Lucas, it would probably would have looked something like this. " because i thought exactly the same while i was watching BtBR!

[–] Druff (1796) 5 years ago

Also....
The Element of Crime.

Oh my god, thank you. I've been going crazy trying to remember the title of that movie, the director, who starred in it... I recently re-watched Paris, Texas for the first time in 25 years and for some reason it reminded of it, I must have originally seen them both around the same time. I kept thinking they were both Wim Wenders. It was bugging me for weeks and I'd given up, thank you...

[–] !!!deleted!!! (12526472) 8 years ago

Altered States (1980)

[–] Don_Cheech 8 years ago

Really? No mention of 2001?

[–] ChipDouglas (1607) 3 years ago

I just watched Phase IV. Very similar film! I'm positive it would've been an influence of Cosmato's. I wish he or someone else would remake this one.