“DISTRICT 9”

THE STORY – Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth — not to conquer or give aid, but — to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens’ welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent (Sharlto Copley) contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.
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THE CAST – Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Vanessa Haywood, Mandla Gaduka, Kenneth Nkosi, Eugene Khumbanyiwa, Louis Minnaar & William Allen Young

THE TEAM – Neill Blomkamp (Director/Writer) & Terri Tatchell (Writer)

THE RUNNING TIME – 112 Minutes

​”District 9″ is a film that expertly blends elements of the body horror genre, action sci-fi genre, and sociological drama into a blistering original film that not only presents a wholly unique concept but also executes it with a high degree of technical skill. It announced to the world the acting talent that is Sharlto Copley and a singular voice in writer/director Neill Blomkamp. Equipped with a $30 million budget and backed by producer Peter Jackson, the once-video game adaptation “Halo” project turned into something that we neither expected nor probably deserved.

An alien spaceship carrying over a million alien bug-like creatures known as “prawns” settles over Johannesburg, South Africa. The ship stays put, and the aliens within become malnourished and are soon relocated to a fenced-off, militarized area known as District 9. MNU (Multinational United), the second largest weapons manufacturer in the world, is put in charge of managing the segregated alien inhabited area in an attempt to appease world relations and avoid a PR scandal. After District 9 becomes uninhabitable due to increased crime activity, MNU decides to carry out a mission to relocate the 1.8 million aliens to the newer District 10. The mission is led by Wikus wan der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), who is a bumbling, non-threatening MNU employee who has little compassion for the aliens he is tasked with relocating. However, on the fateful day when he and other humans are serving eviction notices, a chance meeting with a prawn named Christopher Johnson will change Wikus’s life forever.

Neill Blomkamp was initially leading the charge, along with Peter Jackson, on a “Halo” film that eventually fell through and led to the adaptation of a short film Blomkamp had directed called “Alive In Joburg.” That adaptation became “District 9,” and since its release, it has become one of the best science fiction films of all time to come out of Hollywood. The weaponry and prawn design have a slight “Halo” influence throughout, but that is secondary to Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell’s adapted screenplay fused with themes of apartheid, social segregation, xenophobia, and human (alien?) rights. It’s a rare science fiction film that makes you think about a sociological issue impacting other parts of the world and turns the common theme of aliens being the villain of a blockbuster film on its head. Here, it’s humans who represent evil due to our fears of the unknown alien prawns and our complex superiority towards them despite their clear strength and advantage over us.

Blomkamp also showcases many different shooting styles in his debut, from documentary sit-down interviews to found camera footage to shaky handheld cameras during the action scenes and blending CGI with practical effects. Sure, it may be a tad bit too gimmicky for some, but it’s the heart within Blomkamp and Tatchell’s screenplay where “District 9” gains its emotional power from. This is all due to the character arc of the Wikus van der Merwe character and the transformation (Literally and figuratively) he goes through as he uncovers many of the secrets within District 9. Sharlto Copley exhibits an enormous amount of range as an actor in this film and immediately became a household name due to his work here. Although the other characters in the film may not be as developed as Wikus (One character in particular known as Colonel Koobus is so one dimensional, every line he delivers is cringe-worthy), it’s a testament to the power of Copley’s performance that we don’t mind as much.

“District 9” will excite and shock just as much as it will make you think and feel. What Neill Blomkamp was able to achieve with this relatively small sci-fi action film was nothing short of astonishing ($210 million at the box office and a 2009 Best Picture nomination in his debut film). One may never want actually to visit a place as dangerous as “District 9,” but Blomkamp successfully transports us there, creating a world that is fully realized and symbolizes modern-day atrocities. Although he has been trying to surpass the expectations unfairly placed upon him after the film’s release, Blomkamp can hang his head up high, as proud as any director should be that he created something this innovative, entertaining, and thoughtful.