Film Analysis: Science Fiction Represents Our Anxi

The film contradicts itself in the end scene where the couple is shown living in the city. Huge cities like New York, where the film is set, is very densely populated with people, buildings, and cars. There is very little plant life to be seen in more industrialized focused cities and what plants are around can either be found in small parks or little potted plants in some people’s homes. Shyamalan is trying to convey to viewers that places such as these are the reason that our planet is falling victim to what is climate change. In one scene, Elliot and the group are running from the model home after witnessing more people commit suicide. They run past a sign that says, “Future Site of Clear hill Community” in the foreground, while in the background it is this huge grassy expanse (55:07). This shot shows viewers that all of this beautiful scenery full of plant life is going to be torn away and turned into homes built to accommodate the increase in population. The effects from the film should serve as a warning to the characters in the story that they need to learn and start giving back to the environment.

Tolette states in his article, Science Fiction Represents Our Anxieties, “While science fiction films and novels often, and quite naturally, raise awareness of — or stimulate discussion about — scientific and technological issues including climate change, they seldom function as primers for the solutions we need for these very knotty problems”