Movie Review: District 9 - R

cross-posted from A Catholic View


As the previews indicate, aliens landed on earth almost 30 years ago and they are still segregated in an area called District 9, in Johannesburg, South Africa (their disabled mothership hovers above). They have become known as scavengers, and their area is like a slum, or a ghetto, and they are treated very badly by the humans; in fact, the humans don't want them near anymore, so they are being located 200 kilometers away.

Wikus van der Merwe, with Multi-National United (MNU), is put in charge of serving eviction notices and beginning the relocation process. The story really revolves around Wikus.
He comes in contact with a chemical virus and slowly begins to transform into an alien. This is significant, because alien DNA is necessary to operate the alien weaponry. He becomes a fugitive, and is accused of having sexual relations with an alien. He teams with an alien: the alien shelters him, and he he helps the alien retrieve what he needs to get his ship working. I found the theme of trust to be quite prevalent; both in trusting people you shouldn't, and in learning to trust people you didn't.

Overall, a good picture, but there is a dark tone to it which may not appeal to everyone. The ending makes it likely that there will be a sequel.

Content Warnings: There are some gruesome parts such as blood, and brief body part scenes, and the F word was used quite a bit, even by the aliens too.

http://www.district9movie.com/