1. Uglies (2024)
Based on the book by Scott Westerfeld, Uglies is set in a future where everyone must get surgery at 16 to become “pretty.” It sounds cool at first, but obviously it’s not. The movie follows Tally as she begins to realise the whole system is deeply flawed. It explores beauty standards and control, and it makes you think about how obsessed society already is with appearance. The futuristic city visuals are also really impressive.
2. The Hunger Games (2012)
Obviously, we have to talk about The Hunger Games. It’s such a powerful movie. Watching Katniss volunteer for Prim never stops hurting. The idea of children being forced to fight on live TV is shocking, which is exactly why it’s so effective. The Capitol fashion is wild, and the film combines action, romance, drama, and rebellion. It really has everything.
3. The Electric State
The Electric State has a strong retro-futuristic, apocalyptic feel. It follows a girl travelling across a broken America with a robot, which already makes it memorable. The atmosphere is both sad and adventurous. It’s not just about surviving in a world with robots; it’s about loneliness and finding connection when everything else has fallen apart. The visuals are also meant to be incredibly cinematic.
4. Damsel (2024)
Damsel completely flips the “princess needs saving” trope. A girl believes she is marrying a prince and getting her fairy-tale ending, but it quickly becomes a fight for survival involving a dragon. It’s intense but also very empowering. Watching her solve problems herself instead of waiting to be rescued makes the story especially satisfying.
5. The Blackening (2022)
The Blackening is a really fun watch. It’s both a horror movie and a comedy, and it cleverly makes fun of horror stereotypes, especially the idea that the Black character dies first. The characters feel believable, and the humour works well, while the film still keeps its suspense. It’s an excellent mix of scary and funny.
By Jennifer Cooper
