War of the Worlds
2019
Original language: English
- sci-fi & fantasy
- drama
The story
When astronomers detect a transmission from another galaxy, it is definitive proof of intelligent extra-terrestrial life. The world’s population waits for further contact with bated breath. They do not have to wait long. Within days, mankind is all but wiped out by a devastating attack; pockets of humanity are left in an eerily deserted world. As aliens hunt and kill those left alive, the survivors ask a burning question – who are these attackers and why are they hell-bent on our destruction?
What it’s like
Muted, overcast British daylight, bleached greys and damp greens, with empty streets and abandoned villages that feel uncomfortably still, as if the world has simply paused. The camera stays close and restless during the survival scenes, and the alien machinery arrives with a deep mechanical drone and rattling metal that gets under the skin. Four episodes move briskly, with suspense built through silence and sudden noise rather than a steady score. Its mood is bleak, tense and paranoid, with a sense of grief running under every chase. Violence is frequent and sometimes brutal, with abrupt deaths and gory moments, and the threat is constant. It suits a late-night watch or a weekend binge for viewers who want apocalyptic survival drama with a sharp, cold atmosphere, and who are ready for something harsh rather than gentle.
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