Here are a few underrated 70s sci-fi films that we think deserve much more love and why we love them.

The Andromeda Strain

Filmmaker Alex Cox once compared The Andromeda Strain to 2001: A Space Odyssey. A not undeserved comparison. Not only do both contain incredible special effects work from Douglas Trumbull, but they also resist using “cinematic” stars and characterisation for their heroes and focus a lot on the mechanics of the science at play. When this is all paired with a prescient plot about scientists trying to contain a world-ending unknown alien organism that spreads like a disease you have a sci-fi disaster movie that feels much more real than many of its contemporaries.

Ivan Vasilievich Changes His Profession

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of cinematic realism, we have a farcical time-travel comedy. Which in many ways feels like a precursor to the Bill and Ted series. After an inventor creates a time machine he accidentally sends his building manager, Ivan, and a thief back in time to the court of Ivan the Terrible. Funnily enough, Ivan the Terrible is the spitting image of Ivan the Building Manager. So they end up swapping positions. There is some good social satire here about bureaucracy and power. But more than anything this is just a funny slapstick sci-fi comedy. With prior movies like The Time Machine establishing a serious tone around the subject, Ivan Vasilievich is a welcome break. It doesn’t care about paradoxes or plausibility it just picks up its fun premise and runs with it. Which creates an infectious energy you can’t help but be enraptured by.

The Asphyx

Similar in tone to the sci-fi-inflected horror films that came out of the likes of Hammer in the preceding decades, The Asphyx, tells the classic story of a scientist’s (Robert Stephens) search for immortality. What sets it apart is it’s more overt focus on human drama and its unique central premise. Robert Stephens’ and Robert Powell’s performances are really emotionally resonant. Stephens wants to protect his family at all costs, while Powell believes man can’t and shouldn’t control everything. Additionally, the film focuses on the use of steampunk-esque technology to trap spirits that bring death to humans. Not unlike a Victorian Ghostbusters. A wonky but wonderfully entertaining watch.

Space is the Place

Of the movies recommended here, Space is the Place is the most obscure but also the most interesting. An early Afrofuturist film, the narrative follows musician Sun-Ra and his crew, the Arkestra, as they return to Earth having decided to bring African Americans to a new planet he has discovered, using the medium of song. Once back on Earth, he has to deal with scepticism and battle the Overseer to determine what the future will be for African American people. Not everything here works. There is some wooden acting, the writing feels very self-indulgent at times and the lacklustre direction diminishes the power of key narrative moments. However, with an interesting central plot revolving around using sci-fi concepts to mirror and address themes specifically intended for African American audiences, like black empowerment, separatism and self-determination, beautiful design work and a unique blending of styles; music, crime, sci-fi, exploitation and more, Space is the Place is a trailblazing pioneer that everyone should see.

Hopefully, these examples have given you some more great 70s sci-fi to add to your watchlists. But these are just the tip of the iceberg for underrated sci-fi gems. So please use these choices as a jumping-off point to see more from this great period in genre history.

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Today we are going to look at some of the best disaster movies and what makes them so great. To allow for some variety we will be offering one great example from a different disaster subgenre.

Nuclear Disaster – ‘Threads’

Few movies have ever been able to showcase the utter devastation of all-out nuclear war as Threads does. As with other disaster movies Threads spends a lot of time with its characters building up to scenes of tragedy. Showcasing the lives of the people that are going to be impacted. What makes Threads different is how natural its presentation feels. Its characters are not heroes or villains, just ordinary people trying to live their lives. While being swept up in a conflict they never asked for. All of which adds an extra sting when the mushroom clouds finally rise. Threads is dark, unsentimental and downright horrific in its depiction of nuclear war and its power to shock has not dulled with age.

Natural Disaster – ‘Banel & Adama’

Probably this list’s most left-field choice. Banel and Adama does not focus on big-scale special effects sequences. Instead, it is very much rooted in the romantic, personal and social aspects of the titular characters’ lives. However when a fierce drought visits their village Banel and Adama find themselves under serious strain. Especially since the community views them as being responsible for the heat, due to them rejecting cultural norms. This is a searing look at how a lack of empathy for nature, women and the global south brings small and large-scale destruction. It’s a film that deserves to be seen by everyone.

Man-Made Disaster – ‘The Towering Inferno’

This star-studded thriller about the attempt to rescue people trapped inside a skyscraper that catches on fire hits quite differently today compared to when it was released. In the wake of 9/11, the scenes of terror in the Towering Inferno take on a whole new layer of subtextual horror. Additionally, the theme of cutting corners costing lives hits particularly hard in the wake of events like the Grenfell tragedy. What helps the film is that it treats itself seriously and carries nothing but sympathy for all of those affected. As well as the people risking themselves to save those in need. Thus giving it the power to still emotionally enrapture audiences all these years later.

Transport Disaster – ‘Airplane’

Airplane manages an incredible feat. It effectively skewers so many pre-80s disaster movie tropes, from the overreliance on technology to the protagonist’s dramatic backstory and the pulpy dialogue, in a laugh-out-loud funny way. But it also doesn’t skimp on the presentation and self-serious tone. Meaning that if you were to swap out the jokes this could easily be played as a straight disaster film. And given how memorable the lines, the characters and setpieces are Airplane deserves to be seen as just as much of a disaster classic as others in the genre.

Pandemic Disaster – ‘The Andromeda Strain’

When it comes to pandemic disaster movies The Andromeda Strain, which tells the story of a group of scientists trying to work out how to stop an alien disease from spreading after it wipes out a small town, reigns supreme. There are no huge stars here. A lot of the action is confined to an underground bunker. With much of that boiling down to scientists doing experiments and talking to witnesses and politicians. Yet it all amounts to a thrilling experience because the grounded, unflashy production lends the story a very realistic quality. Thus as the stakes rise the tension becomes almost unbearable because of how effectively the film places us in the characters’ world. Not even a sudden laser chase scene breaks the immersion. That’s how good it is.

Also Read: Don’t Look Up Vs Moonfall: Exploring The Reactions To Both Disaster Movies

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The Contenders

Moonfall is a classic Roland Emmerich disaster movie. Having directed films such as The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day, and 2012 Emmerich has defined the disaster movie genre. His latest sees a mysterious force knock the moon out of its orbit, causing it to “fall” towards the Earth. It’s full of cliches as the characters fly to the moon to try and save the world. Full of one-liners and scenes of destruction. Emmerich is well known for these types of films but seems to be having diminishing returns with each film. With only two features, one of which is Independence Day being certified “fresh”. From the title and first trailer, audiences knew what to expect. It’s big, loud and dumb, which is part of the charm, depending on your view.

By contrast, Don’t Look Up is a very different film. Focusing on the media’s (especially American) reaction to the end of the world. Scientists desperately try to warn people but are unable to get their message across. It’s more of a satire than a straight comedy, as people react with disinterest and mockery. McKay is known for directing many of Will Ferrel’s features, such as the Anchorman films and Step Brothers. Recently he has moved into more serious works, with Vice and The Big Short looking at real-world events and corruption. Though it’s not very subtle, it has an important message and some good laughs

Why The Reception?

The reaction to both films has been mixed, but for the most part, Don’t Look Up is fairing better with critics and audiences. It also has an Oscar nod for Best Picture, something McKay has now managed three times. Moonfall is currently considered a flop, opening with a less than $10 million gross against a $150 million budget. The Oscar conversation and message of the former is doing a lot to increase its profile, whilst Moonfall appears to be struggling at the box office.

Whilst most of Emmerich’s films haven’t been critical darlings, they have been huge at the box office. His films are designed to be seen on the big screen, with wide shots of cities being destroyed or characters looking on at the devastation. It is possible that the pandemic is responsible for the poor box office, as many people are still unsure about returning to cinemas. The other explanation is that audiences are simply tired of it. Emmerich’s disaster films have a formula, often with the same character dynamics each time. This has led to them all feeling predictable. There are also some moments that can be seen as sending the wrong message. Elon Musk and Space X are mentioned several times, and one of the main hero characters is a conspiracy theorist. With all that has happened in recent years, conspiracy theorists and the end of the world don’t seem like a fun afternoon at the movies.

Whilst Don’t Look Up isn’t much cheerier, it allows audiences to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. The characters are intentionally enhanced and absurd for comedy and satire, rather than feeling underdeveloped. The cast is made up of several Oscar winners and nominees, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchett. Combined with McKay’s recent success, it seemed almost destined for an Oscar nomination. The film is very of its time, poking fun at the current media and political landscape and the fears of concerns people have, as well as the divisions. In short, things look scary, and some things seem less scary if you can laugh at them.

Also Read: The Formula For A Perfect Movie Trailer

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