CHAOS WALKING
US/Canada, 2021, 109 minutes, Colour.
Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, Demian Bechir, David Oyelowo, Kurt Sutter, Cynthia Erivo, Nick Jonas, Ray Mc Kinnon.
Directed by Doug Liman.
Chaos and does not usually walk. Rather, it hurtles along. There is some hurtling here, especially a journey and a quest, but the initial information announces to us that chaos occurs in the confusion of the male human mind, chaos walking can be men walking.
The film is based on a trilogy of science-fiction, science-fantasy, futuristic fable by Patrick Ness who contributes to the screenplay of the film. Its appeal is certainly towards a younger demographic. Its director, Doug Liman, has ventured in the past into science fiction and fantasy with The Jumper and, especially, the Tom Cruise saga, Edge of Oblivion.
We are introduced into a world of 2257. Not our world, exactly. Rather, a planet which takes 64 years of space travel from Earth to reach. There is a colony, made up solely of men, an explanation of the disappearance of women coming rather later in the film. The central character is a young adult, Todd Hewitt, played by Tom Holland who has had quite a spectacular career even though he is in his early 20s, known especially as Spiderman. Todd works on a farm with his father and friend.
But, we are introduced to Todd’s mind, the voice-over of his thoughts, the projecting of his thoughts in images, some revelations which he tries to conceal from others. This phenomenon is called The Noise and, with the voice-over, there are visuals of whisps of smoke, coloured fumes, swirling, so that we can see something of The Noise – and long shots of clouds of Noise rising from the gatherings of men.
The strange thing about the narrative is that this world of the future looks remarkably like the American frontier West of the 1890s. We do discover a motor bike but the transport is by walking or by horse. We do see some capsules of pills. But, by and large, this seems a very primitive, elementary community. It is ruled by the Mayor, an opportunity for Mads Mikkelson to do something of a villainous role again. His obnoxious son is played by Nick Jonas.
So far so 2257. Then, a young woman, Viola, Daisy Ridley (who has had considerable experience in fantasies in her Star Wars films) is seen in a crashing spacecraft, landing near this village, having to hide, under suspicion and eventually pursuit by the men of the town. What we expect happens. Todd encounters Viola, they bond (even as he tries to control his thoughts and Noise), make their escape from the pursuing men, on that motorbike, then by foot, encountering strange river keep creatures which Todd kills for their food, an encounter with gangling aliens, then finding refuge in a normal village, men, women and children, and their mayor, black, woman, Cynthia Erivo.
So, journey, quest, and eventual struggle, conflict between good and evil, the discovery of the vast hulk of a crashed spacecraft, radio contact, peril for Todd, rescue by Viola, leaving us wondering - or, perhaps, this has been enough for us - what the futuristic future holds for the two.
1. Science-fiction, science-fantasy? Futuristic fable?
2. Based on young adult literature? The appeal to younger audiences? Heroes, quests, struggles?
3. 2257, the setting on distant planets, the lifestyle, like the American West of the 1890s, frontier style? The landscapes, mountains, rivers? The variety of communities? The contrast with spaceships and futuristic technology? The musical score?
4. The technique for expressing The Noise in the minds of the males? Smoke and fumes? Confusion? The ability of some men to create avatars of their thoughts? The explanation of the confusion in the mind turning into The Noise?
5. The community, no women, the later explanation, the lies and myths? Todd, his age, working for his father, Ben and Killian? In the town? Controlling his Noise? The clashes with the young Davey Prentiss?
6. Prentiss, his control of the town, the mayor, his achievements, support of the community? His relationship with his son? The contrast with Ben and Killian and their work on the farm?
7. The space ship, Viola, the crash? Her being stranded? Her abilities, her knowledge? Her telling the background story to Todd? The 64 year journey from Earth, her grandparents, parents, her training, education on the spacecraft? Lack of experience of actuality? Her age, personality, being pursued, hiding, Todd and his finding her, the bonding, his Noise? Fantasies?
8. The story of their quest, the escape, the river and the capture of their food? The aliens and the struggle? Finding the new community, men and women, the female mayor, black, her welcome? Life in that community, the contrast with that of the original community, the enmity?
9. The mayor, rounding up his posse, the confrontation with Ben and Killian, wanting the information, Killian’s death? Their writing out, the mayor and his son, on the war path? The trekking through the countryside?
10. Todd, telling his story, Viola and her listening, Todd and trying to remember is mother?
11. The buildup to the climax, the demands on Todd and Viola? The fighting? The discovery of the space ship, the wreck, Viola wanting to find the radio contact, the struggle, her achievement? Todd, Ben, the truth about Todd’s mother, her appearing in the Noise? The destruction of the women? The confrontation with the mayor, his killing Ben, Viola’s appearance, the struggle, his falling to his death?
12. The arrival of the space ship? The beginning of a new era? And the future for Todd and Viola?
