Large Fierce Mammal

In keeping with the spirit of this season of Dark Sentiments, enlivened by the general air of gloom and doom casting its shadow across the land, we’ll be taking forays into an ever so special genre straddling science fiction and horror. I’m speaking, of course, of the post-apocalyptic tale, and this will be the first of several we’ll be screening ere we’re done.

In general, the premise is that human society has been dealt a death blow leaving only a few survivors fighting one another to the death over the last few drops of gasoline or the last can of peaches. Nobody knows how to live off the land, or even that it’s possible. Nevertheless, some of the characters I’ve encountered in my research seem in remarkably good physical condition, and beautifully groomed, so clearly in these worlds there is no dearth of well fitted clothes and grooming products.

I have further observations to make that I will reserve for another night, but in the moment let’s settle back to screen a beautifully crafted example of the genre. ØDELAND is an award winning 2015 short film that delivers everything you’d expect without straying too far into the weeds —

“In a post-apocalyptic world in human decay, a protective father and his teenage daughter are forced to bring a mute teenage boy to their hide-out, which puts their relationship under decisive pressure and exposes them to outer dangers.” ~ IMDB

Whatever tipple you have tonight, it’ll be more fun if you pretend it’s the last one ever.