Synopsis
Set in a bleak and dying world, the film 2067, directed by Seth Larney, is a science fiction film and thriller that is set in a world where the ecosystem has collapsed. Earth’s ecosystem has collapsed by 2067. The planet has been ravaged by climate change, environmental devastation, and nuclear disasters. Humanity is forced to rely on synthetic oxygen produced by mega corporations. Unfortunately, this artificial oxygen then leads to a super deadly illness, “The Sickness,” that is rapidly spreading.
The plot revolves around Ethan Whyte, a young utility worker in a decaying city in Australia, which is the last known settlement in the world. Ethan is just a regular utility worker; he’s not a scientist or soldier. His world revolves around his wife, Xanthe, who is gravely ill with “The Sickness” and getting worse by the day, while he also comes to terms with his father’s mysterious disappearance many decades ago. Ethan comes to terms with his father’s mysterious disappearance who was a quantum physicist.
Ethan’s life is turned upside down when he receives a summons from the world’s largest energy company, Chronicorp. They explain to him that his father had developed a prototype time machine, the Chronical, which was capable of sending objects to the future. They tell him that a message was received 400 years into the future, the message being: “Send Ethan Whyte.” Ethan, with a dying wife and a world that is on the brink of collapse, decides to take the risk of venturing into the future in order to save humanity.
Ethan travels to the future, but is suddenly met with a lush green rainforest, a stark contrast to the world he left behind. To his surprise, nature seems to have healed and the oxygen is breathable. As he begins to explore, Ethan finds disturbing signs of a world that is filled with despair. These include a grave with his name on it, his own decomposed skeleton, and many more. To his surprise, Ethan is suddenly not alone. Chronicorp had sent his close friend Jude Mathers to follow him through the time portal, and he is assigned to protect him.
While Ethan and Jude explore this strange world, they find recordings left behind by Richard Whyte, an individual who went to the future many decades earlier. These recordings expose the horrifying reality: Chronicorp never planned to save humanity. They only sought to abandon Earth and colonize the future with a select group of elites. Ethan was merely a genetic pawn, used not to find a salvation for all, but to gain access to the future.
The awakening of this truth weighs heavily on Ethan. Following the clues left by his father and the AI, Archie, he takes action. Ethan sends a live plant sample, and video recordings to his time in an effort to expose the corporation’s lies, even though that means sacrificing his chance to go home. In his effort to expose the corporation’s lies, he secures a chance for Earth’s recovery.
Time shifts in the film’s final moments, signifying the start of regrowth for the dystopian world Ethan hails from. As greenery returns, Xanthe recovers and Ethan’s corpse, which had been lingering in the future, disappears. This indicates a changed future. His mission, which was once believed to be a doomed endeavor, has transformed the future of humanity.
Here is the cast and characters for 2067:
Kodi Smit-McPhee plays the character of Ethan Whyte, who is a passive worker who evolves into the reluctant hero of the story, becoming a symbol of hope and resistance.
Ryan Kwanten plays Jude Mathers, Ethan Whyte’s devoted friend who grapples with his own moral issues in the conflict between duty and loyalty.
Sana’a Shaik portrays the character of Xanthe, who is Ethan’s sick wife and serves as a vital emotional support.
Deborah Mailman plays the character of Regina Jackson, the corporate savior of Chronicorp with undisclosed sinister motives as the ambitious leader of the company.
Aaron Glenane plays a dual role of Dr. Richard Whyte, Ethan’s father, and the inventor of the Chronical.
Direction, Production, and Style
The film is directed by Seth Larney, who is a former visual effects artist. 2067 is a film best consumed visually, as it relies heavily on world-building and visual storytelling. It was filmed on a tight budget, but the suffocating, industrial wastelands of 2067, and the thriving and reborn natural world of the future. Australia was the primary filming location, with a blend of real locations and CGI.Larney noted that his influences include interstellar and blade runner and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The cinematography evokes a sense of despair using high contrast, strong shadows, and sterile environments. However, in the later scenes, despair gives way to vivid greens and natural light.
The film’s emotional and suspenseful parts are richly stitched together with orchestral and ambient sounds, courtesy of Kenneth Lampl and Kirsten Axelholm, the film’s composers.
Critical Reception
2067 was released in late 2020; the critics’ reviews were harsh or lukewarm to say the least. Almost everyone noted the visuals and production value. However, the script was a far cry from up to par. The screenplay was filled with cliche sci fi tropes and dull, heavy handed dialogue. A few critics voiced that the cast, for what is presumed to be an emotionally intense film, gave a very “meh” performance.
The audience had an even broader spectrum of opinions. A part of the audience was intrigued, especially with regard to environmental collapse and corporate manipulation, and the ethics of time travel. A significant part, however, found it to be visually interesting, but slow, and lacking in emotional impact and satisfaction. Nonetheless, 2067 was a mainstay for science fiction enthusiasts as the film took on a unique premise that was richly filled with philosophical nuance.
Themes and Analysis
The central theme of 2067 is Environmental Collapse. The movie reveals the dangers of over-dependence on technology and neglect of the environment. The fact that humanity stubs its toe on the synthetic oxygen it creates is a strong depiction of artificial approaches failing when the root of the problem is not addressed.
At last, the theme of personal redemption takes the spotlight. Ethan’s fraught relationship with his father, who went missing looking for a solution, mirrors Ethan’s own odyssey into the unknown. By learning the truth of his father’s intentions, making his own sacrifice, Ethan is able to close the family saga and serves to restore some hope to a desolate world.
Conclusion
2067 is an ambitious blend of science fiction film with environmental caution, time travel intrigue and some emotional drama. Though the film’s dialogue and pacing are lacking, the film still successfully presents a strong message about humanity’s environmental responsibilities. This is not a film that is marked by action; in fact, it is marked by the deep questions it dares to pose regarding legacy, action, survival, and ethical progress.
For viewers who are interested in speculative fiction that takes the subject seriously, and does not shy away from moral intricacies, 2067 is worthwhile. Though it is far from perfect, the film is thought provoking and imagines a world forever altered by one man’s choices.
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