Free to watch on YouTube and Tubi right now is the startling post-apocalyptic drama Z for Zachariah, a movie that might have been overlooked during its 2015 release, but deserves your attention for its compelling mix of the barren isolation of The Road and the escalating psychological distrust of 10 Cloverfield Lane. Taking a quieter, more character-based view of the end of society, Margot Robbie shares the screen with two accomplished co-stars in a film that demands you pay attention from beginning to end.
‘Z for Zachariah’ Sees Margot Robbie Try to Find Happiness After the Apocalypse
The film takes place in the aftermath of a nuclear war that has ended society as we know it. Those who haven’t been killed by the blast struggle to survive the radioactive contamination. However, Ann (Robbie) has survived the catastrophic event thanks to living on a farm in a valley with favorable weather patterns that have sheltered her from the effects. Living a peaceful agricultural life with her dog, one day she stumbles upon John (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a survivor whom she rescues from a contaminated lake and cares for.
The pair become close, until the arrival of Caleb (Chris Pine), a mysterious stranger who sparks John’s suspicions. The three learn to live together, with both men having their own different kind of bond with Ann. However, as tensions rise, it becomes clear something has got to give. The film was based on the 1974 novel by Robert C. O’Brien, and was mostly overlooked upon its theatrical release despite strong reviews from critics. However, the beauty of streaming is discovering hidden gems, and this is one that’s certainly worth your time.
‘Z for Zachariah’ Focuses On the Human Perspective
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Image by Lionsgate</figure>
When you think of movies that portray the end of the world, chances are you picture cities overrun with zombie swarms, climate disasters, or alien invasions. Director Craig Zobel’s film is different, in that the apocalypse that has left these characters alone happened in the distance, away from the events of the story. Instead, it focuses on how you survive and maintain your own humanity when so much of the world has been wiped out.
This greatly mirrors the 2009 award winner The Road, which focuses on the mental journey of its characters as much as physical survival. The script for Z for Zachariah asks how love, hope, and trust survive when everything has been taken away. It also mirrors Zobel’s 2012 debut, Compliance, which examines the mindset of people when driven by extreme circumstances. In looking at how three individuals survive the end of the world, we get a clearer connection to our own thoughts on what makes us human.
Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Chris Pine Are All on Top Form
Image via Lionsgate
Image via Lionsgate
Image via Lionsgate
Image via LionsgateZ for Zachariah is the type of movie that doesn’t allow its cast many places to hide. Luckily, the three people on screen are stars of the highest caliber, who go through the emotional wringer during the film’s brief 98-minute running time. As John, Ejiofor is a raw nerve, unable to manage his grief at what he has seen, and whose emotional damage threatens his growing bond with Ann, who has been sheltered from much of the carnage.
As Caleb, Pine is more charismatic, forging a bond with Ann through a shared faith. However, something lingers beneath the surface that makes John, and the audience, suspicious. He may be the more agreeable character, but the mystery is what motivates the suspicion in all three as their motivations become clear. In the middle is Robbie, playing Ann as someone who has seemingly accepted her lone fate, only for everything to be thrown into uncertainty by the new arrivals. All three actors bring something different, elevating a story that might have seemed sparse on the big screen without their talents.
As the world becomes more chaotic, the popularity of post-apocalyptic movies has increased, with films such as Resident Evil, The Dog Stars, and 28 Years Later all receiving much-hyped releases this year. If the idea of how humanity survives in the midst of all this chaos intrigues you, Z for Zachariah provides a trio of soulful performances and a plot that makes you think about how you would cope when the noise of the world ceases.
Z For Zachariah
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