'Terrifying' dystopian thriller from 28 Days Later creator receives near-perfect RT score
A new thriller is dropping this week looking at a dark but imminently possible future for America, and based on its Rotten Tomatoes score we should all be booking our tickets now.
28 Days Later writer Alex Garland wrote and directed this film, and some critics are saying it is so tense that it made them ‘physically ill’.
See the gripping trailer for the America-focused war-epic below:
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The film in question is Civil War, a thrilling story where the USA has completely descended into… well you can probably guess from the title.
Starring Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Nick Offerman, the film is A24’s most expensive ever with a whopping budget of $50 million.
The first reviews dropped this afternoon and it’s fair to say – they are absolutely glowing.
In Robbie Collins’ five-star review of the film for The Daily Telegraph, he said: “Civil War moves in ways you’d forgotten films of this scale could – with compassion for its lead characters and a dark, prowling intellect, and yet a simultaneous total commitment to thrilling the audience at every single moment.”
While another review from Zack Pope said: “A24’s Civil War is an unforgettable & terrifying experience through what feels like a glimpse of the future.
“Multiple haunting & heart stopping moments that physically made me ill at times.”
The rave reviews have left fans hyped to see the film, with one (slightly morbidly) saying:
“I can’t wait to watch this banger and then live through this scenario in 2024.”
Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has earned a very impressive 90 percent - which has also continued an epic streak for Alex Garland too.
With Civil War, every project Garland has created since 2002’s 28 Days Later has received a ‘fresh’ score on Rotten Tomatoes of 60 percent or higher.
This is a ridiculous feat when you consider the pure number of projects this covers, with the director also writing or directing Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men, Devs, 28 Weeks Later, and many more.
After all this if you’re still not sure there is one review from a voice more trustworthy than almost any critic – Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead icon Edgar Wright.
The director posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) to say: “Alex Garland's urgent and intense Civil War grabs you by the throat and forces you to watch.
“A vivid near-future shock through a subjective lens, I saw shades of Gillo Pontecorvo's immediacy laced with John Carpenter's sly satire.
“See it large and loud. It's powder keg cinema.”
Listen – if you’re on the fence, then you surely can’t disagree with a cosign from the man who made Hot Fuzz.
The best Alex Garland films, according to Rotten Tomatoes
Garland is a prolific director and screenwriter behind hits like The Beach, Dredd and Ex Machina.
These are his best films, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
As you'll see, he rarely misses.
The Beach (2000) - 21 percent
Men (2022) - 69 percent
Never Let Me Go (2010) - 71 percent
Sunshine (2007) - 76 percent
Dredd (2012) - 80 percent
Civil War (2024) - 84 percent
28 Days Later (2002) - 87 percent
Annihilation (2018) - 88 percent
Ex Machina (2014) - 92 percent
Topics: Film, Rotten Tomatoes, TV and Film
Michael Slavin