Underrated Sci-Fi Classic Puts Lord Of The Rings Star In Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland

The Road was written by Mindhunter creator Joe Penhall based off of a 2006 Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name, and directed by John Hillcoat. While the main cast of the post apocalyptic movie is rather limited, the film does tout a few A-list faces alongside Viggo Mortensen, including Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce, Molly Parker, and The Wire‘s Michael K. Williams. In stark contrast to most films, the characters throughout the narrative of The Road are known only by nebulous descriptors such as ‘Man,’ ‘Woman,’ ‘Boy,’ and ‘Thief.’

The narrative of The Road centers on Mortensen’s ‘Man’ as he struggles to survive with his young son following an unspecified extinction event. As the duo travel the coastline with dreams of locating a survivor colony, they are subjected to attacks from ravenous gangs, cannibals, and other terrifying monsters who thrive in a land with no laws. Through flashbacks, viewers are able to see how the man and the boy came to be so downtrodden and desperate, as the man’s wife succumbed to suicidal thoughts during the early days of the apocalypse.

As the man and his son walk the decrepit road, they struggle to maintain a sense of their basic humanity, even as society collapses around them. With scarce supplies and dangerous individuals all around them, the Man seems to only retain some sense of himself when he sees the world through his son’s largely untainted eyes. As The Road continues to build to a thrilling climax, the film manages to perfectly blend the misery of the apocalypse with the thrilling excitement and danger of a survival tale.

The Road was highly favored by critics and audiences alike upon release, with Viggo Mortensen’s performance hailed as a specific high point of the film. Mortensen is said to have gone full method for this role, by sleeping in his clothes and starving himself for days to fully understand the plight of his unnamed character. Rumor has it, the Lord Of The Rings star was even mistaken for a homeless man at one point during the production, and kicked out of a local business in Pennsylvania.

GFR SCORE

Today, The Road touts a 74 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, though I would argue that this positive score doesn’t do the film justice, as it is an impeccable work of sci-fi art. If you’re interested in seeing one of the most grounded, subversive, and interesting post-apocalypse films of the 21st century, do yourself a favor and stream The Road on Starz today. Just be sure to stash some supplies behind the couch, as you never know when your spouse will pull up with a gang of bandits ready to rob you for your Milk Duds.