Topic > District 9 Movie Analysis and Review

The movie District 9, directed by Neil Blomkamp, ​​tells the story of Wikus Van De Merwe's transformation from human to alien shrimp. Wikus, played by Sharlto Copley, is an MNU officer, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Wikus works with aliens who are accidentally stranded on earth. After accidentally landing on Earth, the aliens take refuge in a small town known as District 9. Wikus leads a team tasked with evicting the aliens and relocating them to a more "improved" district. During a routine eviction, Wikus came across a house containing alien weapons. Wikus came into contact with a foreign liquid and splashed his face with it, then began to develop cold-like symptoms. After over 30 hours of exposure, he gradually began to transform into an alien shrimp. With the help of Christopher, a shrimp, they went in search of a cure to bring Wikus back to human. Unfortunately, the cure was unattainable on earth and Christopher needed to return to his home planet. The return journey was estimated to take three years. Ultimately, leaving Wikus on earth mutated into a shrimp and unable to be with his wife. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The director wanted his audience to learn the surrealism of racism between the two groups of species. In the film we get an in-depth look at the lifestyle that was given to the alien shrimp. They were promised a proper lifestyle, but in return they received a slum community. In one scene we see how the crayfish is excluded from public places, such as restaurants. You might say it looked familiar from the days of segregation. Their homes can be compared to concentration camps that housed innocent people. The social and cultural discriminations presented in the film seem relevant today. The crayfish were mistreated and considered pests by African residents who wandered nearby. During the eviction scene, many crayfish were killed because they did not want to leave the house or because they seemed threatening. Blomkamp used these two distinct groups to highlight the discrimination that occurs when one of them feels superior. During the expedition to find the cure, Wikus and Christopher discover a laboratory with shrimp. Shrimps are tested and examined like animals by scientists. I absolutely loved the acting in the film, Sharlto Copley was brilliant playing a bureaucrat who loved his job and his wife. I loved seeing Copley take the character through a journey of self-discovery and redemption. At the beginning of the film, Copley displays prejudice against crayfish. However, when he begins to transform into one of them, he experiences firsthand the hatred and humiliation they face on a daily basis. His transformation into them took him through obstacles that he had to overcome. For example, when the government discovered his anomaly, they wanted to test him. It was considered a medical artifact and they wanted to use it for research. Copley's acting comes across the screen loud and clear. He makes the audience feel sympathy and concern for him. When he is haunted, we see the fear and anguish in Copley's eyes and attitude. By the end of the film, Copley matures and feels compassion for the crayfish. Demonstrates character growth from loving family bureaucrat to compassionate hero. Copley's acting is like a roller coaster that leaves the audience inspired and enthralled.