Description
Book SynopsisVivid images of the apocalypse proliferate throughout contemporary cinema, which pictures the death of civilization in wildly different ways. Some films imagine a future where humanity is wiped out entirely, while others envision humans as an endangered species, enslaved by alien invaders or hunted by zombie hordes.
This book provides a lively overview of apocalypse cinema, including alien invasions, nuclear annihilation, asteroid collisions, climate change, and terrifying plagues. Covering pivotal films from the silent era to the present day, including
Metropolis,
Invasion of the Body Snatchers,
Dr. Strangelove,
Contagion, and
Avengers: Endgame, Stephen Prince explores how these dark visions are rooted in religious and prophetic traditions, and he considers how our love for apocalypse cinema is tied to fundamental existential questions and anxieties that never go out of fashion.
Trade Review“From stories of cosmic catastrophes and space invaders to nuclear and natural disasters, Stephen Prince provides here an expertly-crafted, lively account of the apocalyptic visions made possible only by the movies.”
— Carl Plantinga, author of Alternative Realities
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1. Sources and Traditions in Apocalyptic Cinema
2. Astrophobia
3. I’m Not Saying We Wouldn’t Get Our Hair Mussed
4. The Revenge of Nature
Acknowledgements
Further Reading
Works Cited
Index
