Poignant Pandemic Picks

Fear, uncertainty and panic are roving through everyone’s thoughts as the coronavirus has swept across nations, leaving governments with no option but to lock down countries and cities.

But what do we do now? Humans are social beings after all. But as much as we are social beings, we are inquisitive and we love to explore.

With the virus making headlines every day, people have flooded the various burrows of the internet, from conspiracy theories to watching apocalyptic series. Well, as Namibia is in a current lockdown, what better to do than to get your Quentin Quarantino on and feed your inner zombie with some thrilling pandemic/end-of-times inspired flicks that will either have you on edge or completely entertained?

‘Outbreak’ (1995)

Now the 90s was the cream of the crop when it came to on-edge, uncompromising hair-raising thrillers and ‘Outbreak’, starring A-listers Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Donald Sutherland, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey all in their prime, is concordant with this era’s style.

Following a storyline that’s very similar to what’s currently happening around the world, Hoffman portrays Colonel Sam Daniels, who along with his crew Casey Schuler (Spacey) and Major Salt (Cuba Gooding Jr) are sent to Zaire to investigate an Ebola-like virus that claims its victims within a matter of days.

The action further heats up when the virus is spread to a small town in California, Cedar Creek, through the captured host animal – a white-headed capuchin monkey. The film quickly turns to a race against time to contain the virus and create an antiserum before too many lives are lost. Besides the obviously great acting banked on by the formidable cast, ‘Outbreak’ also interrogates the drastic, and often illegal, measures governments and militaries are willing to take to contain such deadly pandemics. A real-life outbreak of Ebola was happening in then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) when the film was released.

‘Contagion’ (2011)

Following in the footsteps of ‘Outbreak’, 2011’s ‘Contagion’ also features an ensemble cast who are at war with the invisible as desperate characters across the world struggle to cope with and contain a novel virus in this film.

What sets the film apart from its predecessor is its uncanny familiarity with Covid-19 and what countries are going through in 2020, which has sparked a resurgence of interest in the film, inciting diverse conspiracy theories.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, ‘Contagion’ stars Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle and Sanaa Lathan. Writer Ferris Jabr of New Scientist approved of the scientific relevance and accuracy of ‘Contagion’ for portraying the “successes and frustrations” of this field.

‘Quarantine’ (2008)

This might give most of you anxiety, especially if you’re living in an apartment building (or you’re a journalist hungry for a story), but it’s still totally worth the watch. First off, ‘Quarantine’ is a found-footage horror film, which makes it even more intense with its ambience of reality and first-hand experience. Although ‘Quarantine’ was praised by critics for its atmosphere, horror element and performances, it was besmirched for its lack of storytelling and character development. Nonetheless, it will have you on the edge of your seat throughout.

The story follows news reporter and cameraman Angela Vidal and Scott Percival, as they shadow firefighters Jake and Fletcher during their night shift. What would seemingly be an ordinary night on the job, turns into a twilight of zombie-horror gore.

Despite the film’s shortcomings, it was moderately successful at the box office, grossing US$41,3 million worldwide against a US$12 million budget.

There are several other pandemic movies that will keep you feasted for the lockdown. Check out ‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘I Am Legend’, ‘Patient Zero’, ‘Zombieland’, ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’, ‘World War Z’, ‘The Happening’, ‘Bird Box’ and ‘A Quiet Place’.

– JonathanSasha on social media

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